A method and apparatus are disclosed for dressing a wound. The apparatus comprises a liquid and gas permeable transmission layer, an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, a gas impermeable cover layer overlying the absorbent layer and the transmission layer, the cover layer comprising an orifice connected to the transmission layer, and at least one element configured to reduce the rate at which wound exudate moves towards the orifice when a negative pressure is applied at the orifice.