A pensioner about to be deported back to Britain has run up a staggering hospital bill of $383,000.

And taxpayers will have to foot $358,000 of his medical fees because Government must cover the bill through its aid subsidy.

Fees for John Godbert, who has been in and out of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for the last three years, could even rise above the $400,000 mark -- because he has been given one more month to settle his affairs in Bermuda.

Wheelchair-bound Mr. Godbert, who moved to Bermuda 17 years ago, began suffering from leg ulcers after a motorcycle accident in February, 1995.

The 67-year-old has battled against deportation since he was laid off from his job as an electrician in September, 1995. He had been given a deadline to head back to Britain this week, before immigration chiefs gave him the extra month.

Shadow Health Minister Renee Webb told The Royal Gazette last night that Mr.

Godbert's hospital bills had risen to "astronomical'' levels.

And she said: "The Permanent Secretary of Health, social workers and the hospital authorities were not even informed that Mr. Godbert was to be given an extra month in Bermuda. They read about it in The Royal Gazette .

"Quinton Edness made the decision himself and there is no legitimate reason for it because Mr. Godbert was informed months ago that he would have to leave.

"I put my own inquiries in and I discovered his hospital fees had come to $383,000. That will rise above the $400,000 mark in the next month.

"So what special circumstances were there for Mr. Edness to make this decision, given the fact that Mr. Godbert was put on notice months ago?'' She said Mr. Godbert's insurers, BF&M, would pay $25,000 of the bill amassed so far.

"Government will have to pay $358,000 through its aid subsidy,'' she added.

"That means the taxpayer is carrying the burden of a vast majority of these fees. And the total so far even excludes the cost for this next month.'' It is understood Mr. Godbert, of Sofar Close, St. George's, spent 18 months in hospital during his longest stay.

Immigration Minister Mr. Edness, also acting Health Minister, said: "I accept the criticism and the figures are certainly correct.

"The bill has now come to $383,000. But Mr. Godbert made the claim on Monday, with a letter to me, that he's been in hospital for so long and not had an opportunity to settle up his affairs.

"It is not unreasonable to allow him the chance to settle those affairs before he leaves the country.

Edness defends Godbert decision "We could have said that he had had enough time and he was out of here but this is a compassionate Government and we don't operate that way.

"The Department of Immigration was not aware of the scale of his hospital debt before and I can't go to the hospital and ask them why they allowed him to stay so long.

"It happened. He was sick and he was in the hospital. We investigated when we found out and it was then that we said it would be best for him to leave the country.

"I don't want this Ministry being held responsible for him running up his bill.'' Mr. Edness said Government officials had already contacted social services in Britain to arrange for treatment on his return.

Mr. Godbert, who is divorced, said he would use his new life in the UK to track down two-long lost daughters he had not heard from in ten years.

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