For community nurses faced with expanding case-loads and patients who are now being discharged earlier into the community, the sheer range of conditions they come across means that cost-effective and practical, clinically-effective solutions are at a premium. This is particularly true in wound care, where nurses in the community need products that can be used on a variety of wound types that are also cost-effective. This article looks at the range of wound care knowledge needed by generalist nurses, before focusing on one dressing in particular, Silflex® (Advancis Medical, Nottinghamshire). With its all-round versatility, Silflex provides a balance of usability and cost-effectiveness.