OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state Health Department has put a hiring freeze in place.

Department officials say among the vacant positions they can't afford to fill are long-term care surveyors who investigate complaints at nursing homes and similar facilities.

There are also about 100 vacancies in county health departments across the state including 69 unfilled nursing positions.

The Health Department's overall budget is about $380 million which is essentially the same as last year and department officials say the cost of doing business is rising.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)