Removal of stitches post-op

[tigger15]

My friend has just had key-hole surgery and was told to have stitches removed through her GP. Her useless GP (on many different counts) has just told her that the nurse is on holiday for a couple of weeks and no one else there will do it. They have suggested she ask the hospital to arrange something. The hospital is obviously rather further away and has not provided any information on how to do this.

From my c-sec I recall that if the stitches are left in too long (because you have 2 PCTs fighting over who gets the short straw of your care) they get infected.

Does anyone have any suggestions of how she can get stitches removed with minimum hassle? My ideas have been a walk in centre or persuading her mother's GP that she can be a temporary patient there and use their services.

Look forward to receiving your ideas.

I'd call the hospital and ask them where to go as gp is refusing to do it.

I think it's not so much a risk of them getting infected, but that they get much harder to remove - certainly the ones I had recently, the 3 week old ones were a real pain compared to the 2 week old ones (was in plaster, so they weren't removing that till they were all ready)

I would speak to the hospital to see if they will remove. I had mine removed today after having keyhole surgery 10 days ago. The hospital said to me that if the doctors surgery wouldn't remove them they would have.

I would ring the surgeon's secretary.

I would take them out myself. I did have to after a lap chole, I heal so well and quickly that the skin started to grow over them
NB. Don't do this unless you've either had instruction or have done it before.

Was your friend on a ward? If so, phone the ward and ask if they will take them out.

Cannot believe GP will not remove them.

I too would do it myself.

BUT - only if I had a proper sterile stitch remover. not after abottle of wine with some nail scissors in the bath. That is not such a good idea.

why won't the GP? phone the day surgery/ward wherecer.

Thanks for the advice. I think she's going to call the hospital.

walk in centre will def do it to avoid a hospital trip

Walk in centre good plan, though why a GP doesn't feel able to take stitches out

Or if you know any nurses I'm sure one would help you out. I would never do something like that of course, no sirree[hwink].

if the gp's nurse is on holiday the reception staff should be able to point her in the direction of another nurse. Or district nurses? DN's will be attached to the gp.

She can register as a Temporary Resident with any GP and make an appointment to have them removed.

I am astounded the GP surgery has no-one else that can remove them - is it a 1 GP/1 nurse practice? I would be encouraging her to register elsewhere if her own GP is incapable of removing stitches [hhmm]