A week after he announced the layoffs of 59 employees at the North Hawaii Community Hospital, the chief executive officer of the hospital announced that he was stepping down from his post.

Jeff Comer informed hospital staff and the board of directors of his decision Tuesday and said his resignation was effective immediately. Comer joined the Big Island hospital just four months ago but he had been under fire from the community and hospital staff since the layoffs and the loss of its most prominent financial backer, Earl Bakken.