Accurate assessment of surgical‐site infection (SSI) is crucial for surveillance and research.

Self‐reporting patient measures are needed because current SSI tools are limited for assessing patients after leaving hospital.

The Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) was developed for patient or observer completion; this study tested its acceptability, scale structure, reliability and validity in patients with closed primary wounds after abdominal surgery.

Patients completed the WHQ (self‐assessment) within 30 days after leaving hospital and returned it by post.

Healthcare professionals completed the WHQ (observer assessment) by telephone or face‐to‐face.

Questionnaire response rates and patient acceptability were assessed.