Minor procedures · assessment first
A minor procedure should start with clinical assessment, not with the procedure itself. At the appointment, the first question is whether the problem needs medication, tests, follow-up, an office-based procedure or referral onward.
Clinical logic
Common office-based situations include wound suturing, abscess drainage, assessment and selected removal of skin lesions or lumps, partial nail removal, foreign body removal, joint or corticosteroid injections and assessment of a painful external haemorrhoid with a clot.
Not every problem should be treated in a GP room. If imaging, specialist care, a larger operative assessment or urgent hospital-level care is needed, the right decision is to direct the patient onward.
What is decided?
The appointment focuses on the cause of the problem, urgency, infection risk, need for local anaesthetic, likely benefit of a procedure and whether follow-up, medication, nurse care or referral is more appropriate.
Severe systemic symptoms, rapidly spreading infection, heavy bleeding, a significant injury, deep hand or facial trauma, numbness, movement problems or rapidly worsening pain may need hospital emergency assessment.
Short aftercare notes
These are brief general notes, not full aftercare instructions.
Sutures are usually removed after about 5–14 days, depending on the location.
The wound is usually sutured, and sutures are removed after about 5–14 days depending on location.
The abscess is opened. Follow-up often involves dressings or nurse care, and the wound heals from the base. Drainage and dressing need are common at first. Healing often takes about 1–2 weeks.
The toe or finger is often sore for about 3–5 days, after which the situation usually settles.
Sutures are rarely needed. Symptoms often settle within 1–2 days if the foreign body is removed and infection does not develop.
Short-term tenderness at the injection site is common. The first step is always to assess whether an injection is appropriate.
Related pages
Medical content written and reviewed by Markus Huotari, general practitioner. Updated 20 May 2026.