TN.8.297
Healing by secondary intention
Explanatory note · departmental guidance
Note TN.8.297
Healing by secondary intention is when a wound is left open to heal, instead of repairing the wound by suture, skin flap or skin graft.
Items 31356, 31357, 31358, 31360, 31363, 31364, 31369, 31370, 31371, 31373, 31376, 31377, 31378, 31379, 31380, 31381, 31382 and 31383 allow for healing by secondary intention.
The episode of care includes excision and all attendances for wound management. Therefore, when a wound is left open to heal, only the relevant skin excision item should be claimed.
Applies to 18 items in this tool
31356Malignant skin lesion — definitive surgical excision31357Non-malignant skin lesion31358Malignant skin lesion — definitive surgical excision31360Non-malignant skin lesion31363Malignant skin lesion — definitive surgical excision31364Non-malignant skin lesion31369Malignant skin lesion — definitive surgical excision31370Non-malignant skin lesion31371Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31373Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31376Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31377Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — nose, eyelid, eyebrow, lip, ear, digit31378Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — nose, eyelid, eyebrow, lip, ear, digit31379Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — face, neck, scalp, nipple‑areola complex31380Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — face, neck, scalp, nipple‑areola complex31381Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — any part of the body not covered by item31382Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — any part of the body not covered by item31383Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — any part of the body not covered by item
As at 1 Aug 2026