A method of manufacturing a wound dressing or the like comprises the steps of a) providing a layer of substrate material； b) extruding a curable hydrophobic gel precursor composition onto that substrate material via one or more mobile applicators； and c) causing or allowing the hydrophobic gel precursor composition to cure to form a hydrophobic gel. Wound dressings or the like that can be manufactured by such a method comprise a layer of substrate material, the wound facing surface of which carries bands of hydrophobic gel that are intermingled in a lattice-like arrangement.
