Patient Self Care – Wound Dressing

Preparing to dress your wound

You will need:

• Dressing pack – will include gauze, gloves, tray, apron and waste bag
• Wound dressing provided by nursing staff
• If scissors are required a single use, disposable pair will be provided
• Creams/barrier creams for surrounding skin
• Tape if required
• Wound cleansing solution (water/Octenisan/Octenillin) as recommended by your health care professional

Procedure

1. Wash hands thoroughly using soap, paying extra attention between your fingers and palms of your hands.

2. Dry hands with clean towel/kitchen roll.

3. Place the dressing pack on a firm flat surface.

4. Open the dressing pack carefully peeling the edges open, avoid touching nay surface on the inside of the pack as this is clean.

5. Apply apron provided.

6. Using the clean waste bag, place one hand inside to create a sterile glove. Using the bagged hand separate all contents of the dressing pack out onto the clean dressing pack surface.

7. The waste bag can now be placed aside until required.

8. Open the new wound dressings by peeling the edges of the   packet, avoid touching the inside of the dressings with your hands. Drop the dressings onto the clean dressing pack surface. Discard all dressing packaging in the waste bag.

9. Remove your old dressing by peeling the edge down/up. Avoid touching the inside of the dirty dressing or your wound. If your dressing is stuck, do not pull as this will cause further skin damage, instead wet the dressing with tap water. Then remove the dressing gently.

10. Place dirty dressing into the waste bag.

11. Wash hands again following Step 1.

12. Apply clean gloves from the dressing pack, avoiding touching the fingers and palms of the clean gloves with un-gloved hands.

13. Clean your wound and the surrounding skin with wound cleansing solution recommended by your health care professional and gauze.

14. Ensure the skin surround your wound is dry.

15. Apply new dressing as directed by the nurse who provided dressings.

16. Dispose of all waste in waste bag and dispose of single use scissors.

Please monitor for signs of infection

Observe for signs of:

• Redness to skin surrounding your wound.
• Skin surround your wound is warmer than normal.
• Your wound has become painful.
• Swelling and hardening around your wound.
• Increased wetness from your wound.
• Offensive smell from your wound.
• Yellow or green pus from your wound.
• If your wound deteriorates/gets larger or deeper.

If the infection spreads further, the redness will keep spreading to more areas of skin.

If you suspect a wound infection, please contact your GP practice.

If you have any concerns regarding your wound please contact your doctor or nurse.

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]