Do you need a referral for wound suturing?

Some GP and urgent-care services can assess and close suitable wounds directly. Emergency services may be more appropriate when bleeding is difficult to control, the cut is deep or the injury affects the face, hand, eye or a joint. Suturing is not suitable for every wound; cleaning, glue, strips or delayed closure may be safer depending on contamination, tissue damage and infection risk.

Apply firm pressure with clean gauze or cloth, raise the injured area when practical and cover it while arranging care. Do not push tissue back into a wound, pull out a deeply embedded object or attempt to stitch it yourself. Tell the clinician when and how the injury happened, whether an animal or person was involved, and when you last had tetanus protection.

Go to urgent care for uncontrolled bleeding, numbness, reduced movement, a wound with exposed deeper tissue, or a cut near the eye. Seek prompt assessment after a bite, dirty puncture or crush injury. Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever or worsening pain after closure can indicate infection and needs medical review.

Ask whether stitches are appropriate, how the wound will be cleaned, when the closure needs review or removal, and which changes should prompt an urgent return.