Wound Closure

This framework starts on 19 January 2026, runs for 48 months and ends on 18 January 2030. There is no option to extend.

There are 39 suppliers, including 12 new suppliers, on the framework offering an extended product range, innovative products, and more choice to customers. See the Suppliers section for a full list of suppliers on this framework.

Areas covered

There is one lot on this framework (see Product Categories section for a full list).
See our Downloads ▼ section for the full product listing on the Product Matrix.

Resilience
Our increased knowledge of the global manufacturing base following COVID-19 and subsequent global supply challenges, means we are better able to identify potential risks and mitigate them by building resilience into our sourcing strategies.

How to purchase from the framework

Products available via our Stocked and eDirect supply routes can be purchased using our online catalogue or through your own purchase-to-pay system.

Important notice – for stocked products only.
New contract / framework prices will only come into effect when stock of all products at the old contract / framework price has been depleted.

Ordering samples

Product samples are available from all the suppliers on the framework.

Please note that the decision to supply samples, along with the unit of issue, supplied quantity, time to supply and free of charge nature of any request, is solely the decision of the relevant supplier(s).

Requests for samples should initially be discussed with your NHS Supply Chain ICS Manager. They will then work with you and the respective supplier(s) to agree requests and order on your behalf.

Opportunities to adopt a National Pricing Matrix (NPM) will be available post go-live from February 2026 onwards, which will allow savings opportunities if you can consolidate your purchasing. If you are interested in the savings, please speak to your NHS Supply Chain ICS Manager.

NPMs have been setup to be spend based rather than market share based so ICS level consolidation will naturally have higher spend levels, thus benefitting from greater discounts.

See our Useful Links section for your ICS Manager contact details.

Sustainability, net zero and social value are important elements in how NHS Supply Chain build our framework offering through the procurement process, tendering, supplier award, and contract management. There are five mandatory requirements for suppliers to address supporting compliance with relevant PPNs and NHS England policy.

• Carbon Reduction Plan (PPN 006)
• Evergreen Assessment
• Modern Slavery Assessment (PPN 009)
• Social Value (PPN 002)
• NHS England Net Zero Supplier Roadmap and Horizon Scanning

Awarded suppliers meet the current milestones on the net zero roadmap and have awareness and understanding of future milestones.
Social value
See our Downloads ▼ section for further information on suppliers’ social value commitments.

Sustainable opportunities
The following sustainable opportunities are available on this framework:

• Supplier neutral value vouchers and Medipoints (and others). These are loyalty schemes offered by some suppliers for trusts who meet qualifying criteria (usually having to be signed to a relatively high tier in an NPM with a supplier). These points are forecasted and accrued based upon spend and usage in certain categories, predominantly sutures, and are then exchangeable for value added services or opportunities from the supplier. For example, solutions that reduce operating theatre time, therefore making theatres more efficient. The criteria that sit behind this, and the type and value of offering available, are complex so are best discussed on a case-by-case basis.
• New anti-bacterial ranges from some suppliers have the potential to reduce environmental impact so can be promoted in the right clinical settings.
• The introduction of second-generation products that could change clinical practice to reduce further surgical interventions and the carbon impact of this activity.

• The framework was developed with extensive ongoing clinical stakeholder engagement from NHS trusts and foundation trusts, as well as Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across the NHS
• Key clinical stakeholder groups, operating theatre practitioners and clinicians across multiple clinical specialties within the NHS were consulted
• A voice of the customer panel was also created inviting engagement from Heads of Procurement from across the NHS
• The feedback these groups provided went into specification and process development and led to the approach of ensuring key brands and suppliers were awarded, NPMs were simplified, choice was provided and patient care unaffected.

See our Useful Links section for current NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance for antibacterial sutures.

2,951 products are being delisted.
See our Downloads ▼ section to view the full list of delisted products and details of the alternatives available.

There are 39 suppliers on this framework. They are:

• Advanced Medical Solutions Ltd
• Anser Medical Ltd
• Aquilant Ltd
• Assut UK Ltd
• B Braun Medical Ltd
• Baxter Healthcare Ltd
• BSN Medical Ltd
• Chemence Ltd
• Crest Medical Ltd
• Critical Healthcare Ltd
• Cryolife Healthcare Ltd
• Delta Surgical Ltd
• Gentell UK Ltd
• GS Medical Healthcare Ltd
• Healthium Medtech UK Ltd
• Ideal Medical Solutions Ltd
• Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd
• KCI Medical Ltd
• Kebomed UK Ltd
• Lenience UK Ltd
• Mediq Healthcare UK Ltd
• Medline Industries Ltd
• Medtronic Ltd
• Meril UK Ltd
• OscarTech UK Ltd
• P3 Medical Ltd
• Pearsalls Ltd
• R&D Surgical Ltd
• Reflex Medical Ltd
• Reliance Medical Ltd
• Richardson Healthcare Ltd
• SAI Medical Solutions Ltd
• Sela Medical UK Ltd
• Smith & Nephew Ltd
• Stryker UK Ltd
• Terumo Aortic
• Teleflex Medical Ltd
• Uniplex UK Ltd
• Winners First Trading Ltd

The following suppliers are being delisted:

• Becton Dickinson UK Ltd
  • This impacts 18 products available on the previous framework under the Arista, Avitene and Progel brands. Suggested alternatives are available in the product listing. The alternative suggested for Avitene, an animal-based collagen haemostat, is an equine rather than bovine based product. If the collagen component is not a clinical requirement other options are available.
• Creed Medical Ltd
• Q-Surgical Ltd
• Prosys International Ltd
  • These products are now available under our Surgical Mesh framework.
• Pierson Surgical Ltd
  • However, their products, branded Peters Surgical, are available via Aquilant under new codes
• Unisurge International Ltd

There is an extensive product list from a wide range of suppliers in the market.
There is one lot on this framework which has all the products listed in it. There are various sub-categories in this lot:

• Surgical Sutures, including absorbable and non-absorbable version
• Haemostats, including flowables, fabrics, gauzes, sealants, powders, gels, snow, sheets, sponges, and bone wax
• Tissue adhesives, with and without applicators
• Skin staplers and removers
• Wound closure strips

See our Downloads ▼ section for the full product listing, and details of any delisted lines and alternative products in the Framework Matrices.
Product training is available on all products. To arrange, please contact the relevant supplier.

About the products

Wound Closure products are used to hold wound edges together to promote healing, with the main types including sutures, skin adhesives, haemostats, skin strips, and stapling products.

The choice of product depends on the wound type, location, and required healing support, with sutures used for deeper or more complex wounds, and adhesives or strips for superficial wounds, joints, or supporting early suture removal.

Choice

• Leading suppliers on contract – providing enhanced range and value from a single source.

More savings

• Pay less – with NHS Supply Chain you have a wider range of product options so you can select the ones that are fit for purpose and value for money.
• Leave your tendering to us – spend less time and money on tendering and let our procurement specialists undertake it on your behalf.
• Back office savings – the efficiency of our service, ranging from e-ordering to consolidated deliveries, enables significant back office savings.

More value

• An integrated approach – the financial benefits of NHS Supply Chain go beyond just product prices. Our approach is an integrated one that reduces cost throughout the supply chain, from raw materials to global logistics, resulting in a much lower total cost.
• Purchasing through our route – when there are changes in the market, we can help minimise the impact of price rises and give support with cost saving initiatives.

Our knowledge and expertise

• Dedicated Acute team and Out of Hospital Care team – your day to day contact for all queries. They will help you identify savings opportunities, solve any issues on your behalf and ensure high service levels are always met.
• NHS Supply Chain Buyers – procurement specialists in their product fields who can give expert advice on new and alternative products.
• Implementation Team – experts in helping you set up the new processes and training required when introducing new products.
• Customer Services Team – with the daily support provided by our dedicated and knowledgeable advisors and service managers you know you are in safe hands.
• Customer Assurance – providing customers with the confidence and assurance of products using a process of clinical evaluation and engagement with clinical users. This ensures all products are clinically assured by the CaPA process, supported by engagement with customers.

Peace of mind

• Dependable deliveries – having access to the know-how and resources of one of the world’s largest logistics companies means we can offer unrivalled dependability and responsiveness when it comes to our delivery services.
• Framework agreement – awarded in accordance with UK procurement legislation.
• Sustainability – Sustainable procurement is embedded into our category management processes to ensure that our suppliers meet requirements for carbon reduction plans, evergreen assessment, modern slavery, social value and NHS England net zero supplier roadmap. Additionally, our logistics partner is certified ISO14001.