HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) ó Tough economic conditions have forced a North Carolina hospital to close a health care unit and eliminate 51 positions.

The High Point Enterprise reports that High Point Regional Health System said Monday it would close the Restorative Care Unit later this month. The hospital said the cuts would save about $750,000 a year.

Hospital president Jeff Miller said health care isn’t immune to economic conditions.

The cuts represent about 2 percent of High Point Regional’s 2,380 employees. A spokesman said most of the employees whose jobs were eliminated are expected to be offered other jobs in the health care system.

Officials say the restorative health care unit opened in 1993 to add nursing home beds. Those beds no longer are needed because of the addition of nursing home beds in the community.