BBC Information, North East and Cumbria
Hilary RabbettThe household of a disabled teenager determined to supply a discontinued ointment stated these promoting it at inflated costs had been “morally corrupt”.
George Rabbett-Smith, from Bowes, County Durham, is minimally aware after trying to take his personal life in 2023 when he was 17 and suffers with persistent stress sores.
Metanium nappy rash ointment is the one product to have relieved his signs, his mom Hilary Rabbett stated, however it 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 stated her 19-year-old son’s spasticity meant his pores and skin was significantly weak to break, together with stress and moisture sores.
The household obtained Metanium on prescription after a variety of different ointments proved unsatisfactory, however their provide is sort of exhausted.
“There are others we are able to use, however they are usually extra oily,” Mrs Rabbett stated.
“They are not going to dry, they’ll lock in moisture injury and stop extra happening, however they will not dry out any barrier injury already there.
“Anybody who has a stress sore is aware of they’re very painful and uncomfortable.
“For somebody who cannot categorical that ache and discomfort, as George cannot, it’s fairly distressing.”
Hilary RabbettCriticising 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 suppose occasions are laborious and all of us have to generate income the place we are able to.”
Another model of Metanium stays on the cabinets, however the product utilized by George’s household – which was designed to deal with, slightly than merely stop nappy rash – comprises the energetic pharmaceutical ingredient Titanium Salicylate.
A petition to reinstate the product was signed by tons of reliant on it to deal with a wide range of pores and skin issues.
However producers Thornton & Ross haven’t any plans to convey it again, and no remaining shares.
A spokeswoman stated Titanium Salicylate may now not be sourced “reliably or sustainably”.
She stated the choice to cease producing it was not taken evenly, including: “We explored all avenues in our makes an attempt to search 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 another answer.”
