A gel for use in dressing a wound and a process for the manufacture of a gel are disclosed. The gel comprises a monovalent salt of a polygalacturonic, acid derivative (such as sodium pectate) a carboxy-polysaccharide (such as a monovalent salt of a carboxycellulose derivative or a monovalent salt of an alginic acid derivative) and multivalent ions providing ionic cross-links between the monovalent salt and the carboxy-polysaccharide.