General Wound Care Passport v5
General Wound Care Passport
Patient Information
Orthopaedic Outpatient Services
- Author ID: LMF
- Leaflet ref: Musc 042
- Version: 4
- Leaflet title: General Wound Care Passport
- Last review: November 2022
- Expiry date: November 2024
Patient Details
Please read this leaflet carefully and always bring it with you on every attendance to the hospital.
Unit Number: ................................................................................................
Patient’s Name: ................................................................................................
Address: ................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Hospital Appointment Times
Your next appointment is on:
Wound Care Details
Subsequent Dressing Changes…
Helpful advice on how to care for your wound
If you have had your wound closed using stitches, adhesive wound closure strips (SteriStrips), staples or medical glue, you must keep the wound dressing clean and dry.
Do not cover the dressing or wound with a waterproof finger stall or plastic bag unless your healthcare team advise you otherwise, as this may make the wound moist and increase the chance of infection.
Wash and bathe with caution, advice will be given on an individual basis.
For all wounds
Once the wound closure method has been removed and the wound is fully healed, gently massage the area with unscented moisturising cream, e.g. E45 to encourage good wound healing.
Signs of wound infections
Wound infections are always a possibility after an accident/trauma/surgery.
Infection can happen at any time. Please be aware of any of the following symptoms:
- A raise in body temperature.
- Increased redness, pain or swelling.
- An offensive smell, heat around the wound.
- A thick yellowy discharge. However, it is normal for there to be a clear straw coloured fluid weeping from the wound in the first 36 hours.
- If you feel generally unwell.
These indicate that the wound may be infected and needs treating with antibiotics.
You may experience other problems such as:
- Continuous pain that is felt even at rest
- The fingers, toes become swollen, blue, pale, cold or difficult to move and do not improve with elevation.
- Numbness, loss of sensation or ‘pins & needles’.
- The dressing becomes loose and uncomfortable.
- Visible internal sutures appearing.
If you have any concerns about your wound and would like some advice, please contact the Department Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm on telephone number: 01942 822109
Outside these hours contact your local walk-in centre, minor injuries, GP surgery or, as a last resort, it may be necessary to contact the Accident and Emergency Department on 01942 822440.
Available services for wound care:
The Orthopaedic Department has a nurse led wound care service, with experienced nurses providing the care for orthopaedic/trauma patients requiring dressings following surgery and discharge from the ward or between out-patient appointments. This service provides the opportunity for discussion on health promotion, patient information, education and problem solving for both patients and carers.
Please contact the Orthopaedic Department, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm on telephone number: 01942 822109.
There are District Nurse Teams based at Health Centres and clinics throughout the Ashton,
Contact details
Fracture Clinic/Orthopaedic Out-patients Wigan
Plaster Room 01942 822106
Nurses Station 01942 822109
Follow-up Appointments 01942 773162
Hand Physiotherapy 01942 822103
Orthopaedic Secretaries 01942 822247 / 01942 773256 / 01942 822615
Main X-Ray Reception 01942 822409
Leigh Clinic 01942 264087
Leigh Secretary 01942 264292
Appointments 01257 256222
Clinic 01257 256299