Metanium ointment appeal for disabled teen on ‘last tube’

The household of a disabled teenager determined to supply a discontinued ointment mentioned these promoting it at inflated costs had been “morally corrupt”.

George Rabbett-Smith, from Bowes, County Durham, is minimally aware after making an attempt to take his personal life in 2023 when he was 17 and suffers with persistent strain sores.

Metanium nappy rash ointment is the one product to have relieved his signs, his mom Hilary Rabbett mentioned, but it surely was discontinued final yr over provide points.

The household is now all the way down to their final tube and Ms Rabbett has hit out at on-line sellers charging £30 for a product which had retailed for lower than £6.

She mentioned her 19-year-old son’s spasticity meant his pores and skin was significantly susceptible to wreck, together with strain and moisture sores.

The household obtained Metanium on prescription after a variety of different ointments proved unsatisfactory, however their provide is nearly exhausted.

“There are others we are able to use, however they are usually extra oily,” Mrs Rabbett mentioned.

“They don’t seem to be going to dry, they’ll lock in moisture harm and stop extra happening, however they will not dry out any barrier harm already there.

“Anybody who has a strain sore is aware of they’re very painful and uncomfortable.

“For somebody who cannot specific that ache and discomfort, as George cannot, it’s fairly distressing.”

Criticising the web sellers, she added: “To play on somebody’s vulnerability by promoting one thing at £30 a tube with a RRP of about £6 is morally corrupt.

“However I assume occasions are laborious and all of us must earn cash the place we are able to.”

An alternate model of Metanium stays on the cabinets, however the product utilized by George’s household – which was designed to deal with, quite than merely forestall nappy rash – accommodates the energetic pharmaceutical ingredient Titanium Salicylate.

A petition to reinstate the product was signed by lots of reliant on it to deal with a wide range of pores and skin issues.

However producers Thornton & Ross haven’t any plans to carry it again, and no remaining shares.

A spokeswoman mentioned Titanium Salicylate might now not be sourced “reliably or sustainably”.

She mentioned the choice to cease producing it was not taken evenly, including: “We explored all avenues in our makes an attempt to seek out an alternate sustainable and dependable supply of the ingredient or appropriate alternate options to the ingredient.

“Sadly, regardless of our strenuous efforts, we had been unable to determine every other resolution.”