Wound dressing change advice

[BrigidOShaughnessy]

I had surgery two days ago to remove distal radial plate in forearm. Was told to remove outer dressings after two days which I’ve done. The Steri-Strip dressing directly covering the wound is 1/3 full of old blood.

When I look at my discharge notes it seems to imply I remove this at the GP surgery after 10 to 14 days. However It doesn’t feel right to leave a manky dressing on the wound for that long, and due to the fact the I was also given spare Steri-Strips at the hospital, I’m not sure whether to change this dressing myself? It is a Saturday and the GP surgery will not be open until Monday. Not sure weather to remove old dressing, clean wound with salt water and re-apply Steri-Strip once area’s dry myself? Or wait until can call docs Monday.

Call 111 for advice

Do you have a telephone number on your discharge notes? Where did you have your procedure - if you were on a ward, you can typically present yourself back on the ward in the event of an issue.

Do you have a walk in centre? I’d try that.

Yes done 111, waiting call bk. Will try the only number I have which is the ward discharge number to. Thanks.

Yep rang ward number. Apparently you take old dressing off do not clean the wound and put new dressing on, sounds very straightforward. I will try that, thanks for responses.