An electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members (5), (6) movable from a first open position in which the jaw members are disposed in a spaced relation relative to one another, to a second closed position in which the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. A first sealing electrode (7) is located on the first jaw member, and a second sealing electrode (8) is located on the second jaw member. A stationary flexible cutting electrode (11) is located adjacent the throat area constituted by the convergence of the first and second jaw members when in their open position. The electrical connections of the instrument are such that when the jaw members (5), (6) are in their closed position with tissue grasped therebetween, the instrument is capable of sealing the tissue by passing an electrosurgical current into the tissue from the first and second sealing electrodes (7), (8). When the jaw members (5), (6) are in their open position the instrument is capable of cutting tissue by moving the instrument in a forward direction such that tissue comes into contact with the cutting electrode (11), an electrosurgical current passing into the tissue from the cutting electrode.
