{"id":20592,"date":"2025-01-22T09:36:43","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T10:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=20592"},"modified":"2025-01-22T15:37:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T15:37:04","slug":"ointment-appeal-for-disabled-teen-on-last-tube","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=20592","title":{"rendered":"Ointment appeal for disabled teen on ‘last tube’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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5 hours ago<\/div>\n
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Joanna Morris<\/span><\/p>\n

BBC News, North East and Cumbria<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"HilaryHilary Rabbett<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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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

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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

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\"HilaryHilary Rabbett<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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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

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\"A<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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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

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More stories from the BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Related internet links<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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