When should a wound be checked after surgery?
About a week.
On discharge from hospital after an operation, you will be given advice on how to care for your wound. If you have clips or stitches that need to be removed, you should contact the practice nurse at your GP surgery, to book a wound check. There may be other advice (e.g. regarding equipment required) in your discharge summary.
Call your GP practice as soon as possible on leaving hospital. Do not assume that the GP will know you have had an operation and need a would check. But remember – you can book practice nurse appointments in advance, so there’s no need to ring up when the practice opens to get an appointment on the same day.
A wound check should take place about a week after you go home.
If you are bed bound or on the disability register, and cannot get to your GP surgery, the ward is able to refer you to a community hub for a district nurse to visit you at home. If they do not do this, ring your GP practice when you are discharged, and they can organise it for you.
District nurses usually ‘work out of’ your local general practice but are not employed by them (more on this here). Speak to the GP receptionist, who will be able to arrange the visit.
You do not necessarily need to see the surgeon, unless there is a problem.
