Brighton: Man's Prince Regent disabled membership revoked

Stuart Letton was getting back on track after years of suffering when doctors referred him to the Prince Regent leisure centre in Brighton for rehabilitation in 2023.

But just one year after first dipping into the therapeutic pool and loosening up his joints, Stuart faces going back to square one after leisure bosses rescinded his special membership.

The Prince Regent is the only swimming pool in the city centre

The former avionics engineer, from Brighton, was forced out of work due to his severe osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, along with a previous broken hip, which leaves him in extreme pain and using crutches to walk.

His GP at a clinic in the city signed him up to a scheme for discounted membership at Freedom Leisure sites such as the Prince Regent for rehabilitation.

The 57-year-old said: "I mostly used the swimming pool and light weights in the gym. 

"The steam room and sauna were very good for my osteoarthritis. I would go there as often as I possibly could, even though there are some days where I can't even get out of the house."

Stuart said the discounted membership changed his life (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The weightless swimming therapy took pressure off his injured joints for exercise and Stuart was soon noticing changes in his health and mood.

He said the membership cost him £29.50 per month, a significant discount on the standard cost which is around £40 per month.

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However, just as he was getting used to the therapy he was told his membership had expired and he was not able to use the leisure centre's facilities nor was he able to extend it.

"I was crushed. Nobody told me the membership was for just one year," he said.

Stuart wrote to his GP to try renew the membership but was told his condition - which is degenerative and cannot get any better - does not qualify for a further year.

He said: "I thought Brighton was one of the most accommodating places to be as a disabled person.

"It felt like I was just told 'go away, disabled guy. Just get fit, get a job, and then you can afford to come'.

"But really I am just shocked. I have transformed myself and this is just a smack in the face."

Stuart uses a crutch to walk (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The Argus contacted Freedom Leisure to see how it could help Stuart on his road to recovery.

Brighton and Hove area manager Darryl Keech outlined the range of memberships available on its health referral programme, from a short-term three-month membership to a continual membership for those with longer term conditions.

He said: "Our hugely successful Health Referral Programme is currently receiving around 100 individual referrals per month with just over 18,000 visits annually in our leisure facilities across the city.

"We are unable to share the specific medical details for the re-referral but unfortunately the information provided from Mr Letton’s GP did not meet the criteria for a further year in our scheme.

"One of our colleagues contacted Mr Letton by email on July 25 providing a detailed explanation and a number of solutions to ensure that he is able to continue his recovery and fitness journey with us.

"If Mr Letton would like to discuss this further then he is more than welcome to contact me directly."