Fifty-three employees at Newton Regional Hospital threatened to quit Friday evening after months of what they call poor conditions at the facility. They maintain the conditions have put their patients in danger.

The employees originally considered a formal hospital walk out, but after considering the safety of the patients they are taking care of, they decided to give notice instead.

That is until a last minute conversation with the hospital's Board of Trustees- Newscenter Eleven received a call just as the group was to resign at 4 p.m. informing us plans were off-at least for Friday. In a statement, the group says their decision was made at the request of the board, but if conditions don't change they will quit.

The group of concerned employees met with the board Sunday and expressed concern with management. They say it is responsible for thousands of dollars in unpaid bills. As a result, the group says vendors have frozen accounts and the facility has been operating without necessary medical supplies and drugs.

County Administrator Steve Seale says county leadership has been in the dark about the trouble brewing within the facility.

"I am sure they will be shocked and they will want to know what is going on if there is something underneath that needs to be brought up," said Seale.

"In this area there is no where else to go," said Newton County resident, Verna Rash.

Attempts to reach hospital management and the hospital board of trustees about this story were unsuccessful