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THOMAS COUNTY -- To help hold the line on costs without reducing services, the Thomas County Health Department will change its operations from five days a week to four beginning July 5.

The health department’s new daily hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“The purpose of going to the10-hour work day is for the health department’s budget to see some cost savings without cutting services to our patients,” said Thomas County Health Department County Nurse Manager Carolyn Simmons. “It has an additional benefit of assisting our working patients, who sometimes have difficulty getting time off prior to the start of their work day or after their work day is completed to come in for services,” Simmons said. “Extending our hours gives them added options and may help them avoid taking time off from work.”

Shrinking budgets throughout Georgia have resulted in furloughed workers and suspended or reduced Public Health programs in some parts of the state. For information about programs and services offered by the Thomas County Health Department, call 229-226-4241. Learn more about a variety of public health programs in Southwest Health District by visiting www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org or by Liking “Southwest Georgia Public Heath” on Facebook.