BBC News, North East and Cumbria<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The family of a disabled teenager desperate to source a discontinued ointment said those selling it at inflated prices were “morally corrupt”.<\/p>\n George Rabbett-Smith, from Bowes, County Durham, is minimally conscious after attempting to take his own life in 2023 when he was 17 and suffers with persistent pressure sores.<\/p>\n Metanium nappy rash ointment is the only product to have relieved his symptoms, his mother Hilary Rabbett said, but it was discontinued last year over supply issues. <\/p>\n The family is now down to their last tube and Ms Rabbett has hit out at online sellers charging \u00a330 for a product which had retailed for less than \u00a36.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n She said her 19-year-old son’s spasticity meant his skin was particularly vulnerable to damage, including pressure and moisture sores.<\/p>\n The family obtained Metanium on prescription after a range of other ointments proved unsatisfactory, but their supply is almost exhausted.<\/p>\n “There are others we can use, but they tend to be more oily,” Mrs Rabbett said.<\/p>\n “They’re not going to dry, they will lock in moisture damage and prevent more taking place, but they won’t dry out any barrier damage already there.<\/p>\n “Anyone who has a pressure sore knows they are very painful and uncomfortable.<\/p>\n “For someone who can’t express that pain and discomfort, as George can’t, it is quite distressing.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Criticising the online sellers, she added: “To play on someone’s vulnerability by selling something at \u00a330 a tube with a RRP of about \u00a36 is morally corrupt.<\/p>\n “But I guess times are hard and we all need to make money where we can.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n An alternative version of Metanium remains on the shelves, but the product used by George’s family – which was designed to treat, rather than simply prevent nappy rash – contains the active pharmaceutical ingredient Titanium Salicylate.<\/p>\n A petition to reinstate the product was signed by hundreds reliant on it to treat a variety of skin problems.<\/p>\n But manufacturers Thornton & Ross have no plans to bring it back, and no remaining stocks.<\/p>\n A spokeswoman said Titanium Salicylate could no longer be sourced “reliably or sustainably”.<\/p>\n She said the decision to stop producing it was not taken lightly, adding: “We explored all avenues in our attempts to find an alternative sustainable and reliable source of the ingredient or suitable alternatives to the ingredient. <\/p>\n “Unfortunately, despite our strenuous efforts, we were unable to identify any other solution.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Hilary](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/dc04\/live\/ea863ee0-d8c8-11ef-bc01-8f2c83dad217.jpg.webp\")
Hilary Rabbett<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Hilary](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/cb28\/live\/9ccf4dd0-d8b0-11ef-b727-bdbf55ba60e2.jpg.webp\")
Hilary Rabbett<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/ac7f\/live\/26e41360-d81c-11ef-9c2b-f324606bf591.png.webp\")
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