An apparatus (1) for cleansing wounds (5) in which irrigant fluid from a reservoir (12) connected to a conformable wound dressing (2) and wound exudate from the dressing are moved by a device (which may be a single pump or two pumps) for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for providing simultaneous aspiration and irrigation of the wound, and means for supplying physiologically active agents to the wound. The former provides a desired balance of fluid at a controlled nominal flow rate that removes materials deleterious to wound healing, while distributing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing over the wound bed. The latter maintains physiologically active agents at a level that promotes wound healing.
