SO much to offer the community, but with the threat of deportation hanging over him a Lytham nurse is living on a knife's edge.

Branco Kostovski has worked at St Andrews Nursing Home in Lytham for a year after overcoming obstacles many would deem unthinkable.

But to continue his work as a registered general nurse, he faces one more obstacle - to win his fight to remain in England at a hearing with immigration authorities later this month.

If his plea is refused, Branco will have to return to his home in the former Yugoslavia and the horrific aftermath of civil war.

Not only that, he will leave behind friends he has come to love and patients he regards as closely as if they were his own family.

Branco said: "I have no family of my own so I regard the patients here as my family.

"If I am deported now, I will be devastated. Both myself and the people I care for will suffer badly. I cannot begin to plan my life forward for more than a few weeks. I cannot even buy simple things for my flat in case immigration tell me to leave."

"Since living in England, I have never once claimed a penny from the Government and I have not had one day off sick.

"The job is hard and the hours are long, but I love it. It is my life."

Branco's career began after graduating from the University of Belgrade qualified as a perfuser in heart surgery, which we have a shortage of in this country.

He explained: "My work involved making sure every other vital organ in the body was kept stable during open heart surgery. This could mean treating babies as young as six hours old."

Realising tensions were growing in Yugoslavia and being of a mixed nationality, Branco decided to take his expertise to Libya where he worked as a paramedic. He left there to live in England two-and-a-half years ago.

Since working at the nursing home on Lowther Terrace, the respect he has gained from patients and colleagues has been overwhelming.

One patient said: "We all love Branco very much. If he leaves we will all be heartbroken."

Rodney Barlass, the nursing home's proprietor, said: "Branco has done sterling work for the home and has even worked as matron in the absence of our usual matron.

"If he is unsuccessful in his plea, he will be greatly missed by all of us."

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