Patients with chronic wounds present a growing challenge to community practitioners. Adding to this growing burden is the fact that inconsistent and sub-optimal wound care is delivered in some cases resulting in hard-to-heal wounds that could heal with evidence-based care. Holistic patient assessment is an important first step in establishing the cause of the wound and identifying any barriers to healing. Wound bed preparation is a concept which prepares the wound for closure by systematically identifying potential barriers to non-healing within the wound, including the presence of devitalised tissue, excess exudate, increased wound bioburden, infection, inflammation and biofilm. Dressings are a key part of wound bed preparation in the community setting, and it is important that community practitioners are mindful of the properties and mode of action of products they use, so that optimal outcomes can be achieved. Suprasorb® Liquacel Pro is a hydroactive gelling fibre dressing and Suprasorb® Liquacel Ag is a hydroactive dressing with silver nanoparticles that can be used as part of wound bed preparation to promote a moist wound healing environment.