Wound Care & Sutures
Looking After Your Wound
Our nursing team provides wound care, dressing changes and suture or staple removal for patients who need ongoing care following an injury, procedure or operation.
We’ll assess your wound, provide the appropriate care and advise you on how to look after it at home.
Wound Care Appointments
You may need a wound care appointment for:
-
Dressing changes
-
Wound checks
-
Ongoing wound management
-
Post-operative wounds
-
Removal of sutures (stitches)
-
Removal of staples
-
Monitoring wounds that are slow to heal
The frequency of your appointments will depend on your wound and the care you need.
Stitches & Staple Removal
If you've had stitches or staples inserted at a hospital or another healthcare service, you may be advised to have them removed at your GP surgery.
Please make sure you know when they need to be removed and bring any discharge paperwork or instructions you were given.
Had Surgery at a Hospital?
If your wound care is following an operation or hospital procedure, please follow the instructions provided by your hospital team.
Some specialist or complex wounds may need to remain under the care of the hospital or community nursing service rather than the GP surgery.
Worried About Your Wound?
Please contact us if you are concerned about your wound, particularly if you notice:
-
Increasing redness, swelling or warmth
-
Increasing pain
-
Discharge, pus or an unpleasant smell
-
The wound starting to open
-
A high temperature or feeling increasingly unwell
Our team can advise you on the most appropriate next step.
New or Serious Injuries
Our routine wound clinics are not an emergency or minor injuries service.
If you have a new injury that may require stitches, a deep or heavily bleeding wound, a serious burn or another significant injury, please seek help from an appropriate urgent care service.
For life-threatening injuries or severe uncontrolled bleeding, call 999.
Need an Appointment?
If you've been advised that you need a dressing change, wound check or removal of stitches or staples, contact our team to arrange the appropriate appointment.