• Reference Number: HEY1007/2026
• Departments: Emergency Department
• Last Updated: 31 March 2026

Introduction

This advice sheet has been produced to give you information about wound closure. It is not meant to replace discussion between you and your doctor. If after reading it, you require further explanation please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for you.

General Information for all wounds

Keep the wound dry, wash around the wound where possible. Do not cover the wound with waterproof finger stalls (leather or plastic finger coverings) or plastic bags unless advised, as this can make the wound soggy and increase the risk of infection.

Advice:

• The redness of the scar may take up to 6 months or more to fade
• Do not worry if your wound is itchy, slightly red close to the wound or has a slight discharge this is part of the healing process
• If you have a wound over a joint, restrict movement or heavy lifting for the first week, to allow healing to take place.
• If a dressing has been applied over the wound, leave it in place for 5 days
• If your wound shows signs of infection (heavy discharge, becomes painful, swollen, very red or the redness spreads) contact your GP
• If there is excessive bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean towel for 10 minutes. If the bleeding continues return to the Emergency Department
• If your wound re-opens please come back to the Emergency Department or Dressing Clinic so that your injury can be re-assessed

Medical Glue (Tissue Adhesive)

This is glue designed to treat wounds.  Do not pick the glue, as this may cause the wound to re-open.  A scab will form on the wound, which will come away once you start washing the area, this can take 1 to 3 weeks.

Steri-strips

If your wound has been treated with steri-strips these can be removed after _______ days.  To remove the steri-strips moisten the wound for about 10 minutes and remove the strips carefully.

Stitches

You will need to make an appointment with your GP Surgery or Dressing Clinic to have your stitches removed on the date noted below. Please take this advice sheet with you to the appointment.

Date of removal of stitches: ____________________

Number of stitches: _____________________

Pain relief medication

To manage your pain, we advise that you regularly take simple pain relief medication which can be bought over the counter. If you have allergies or conditions which prevent the use of pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory medication, please seek advice from your GP or a pharmacist

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this advice sheet, please do not hesitate to contact the Emergency Department.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and well-being and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.