A REHAB centre credited with saving a patient’s life is to stop providing inpatient rehab care.

From next month the private Elysium Brighton and Hove Clinic in New Church Road in Hove – formerly part of the famous Priory chain – will refocus on young people with eating disorders.

One recovering alcoholic told The Argus his stay at the clinic last year saved his life, after services provided by the NHS failed to break his addiction to alcohol.

The former patient, who wished to remain anonymous, paid more than £15,000 for a 28-day stay at Elysium last year.

He said: “I can quite honestly say without their services I would not have stopped drinking.

“I would have killed myself, without a shadow of a doubt.

“It’s a progressive disease, a misunderstood diseas, and that’s what it does: it kills people.”

He said the high cost of the private care was similar to what he was spending on alcohol each year and was good value for saving his life.

He said: “I was privileged to be able to go into a private facility, but by removing this they are diluting the services available to the public – whether private or public – to treat addiction.

“There’s an NHS programme through Pavilions, but that just didn’t work for me because it wasn’t intensive enough.

“It’s a day programme and that didn’t break my addition.”

A spokeswoman for the clinic said: “The level of need for our adult private inpatient services has steadily decreased although we have seen a much greater use of outpatient and day-care services.

“With this in mind, from July 2018 we will no longer provide adult inpatient services.

“Our day care and outpatient services will continue providing treatment for disorders such as stress, depression, anxiety and addictions etc.

“Our inpatient facilities will be redirected to care for young people with eating disorders.”

A spokesman for NHS Brighton and Hove Clinical CommissioninGroup, said it was committed to helping those fighting addiction, their families and their carers.

He advised sufferers to start by talking to their GP, adding: “Adults who suffer from alcohol and drug addiction can also get support from a partnership called Pavilions, which provides services to anyone concerned about their drug or alcohol use, or for the families and carers supporting those struggling with substance misuse.

You can visit pavilions.org.uk or call 0800 014 9819 for help.

“Young people in Brighton and Hove can access help through ‘ru-ok?’ online at www.ruokservice.co.uk, which offers free confidential help and advice to young people and families.”