Abstract: The invention provides a disposable suture package containing a curved surgical needle to which a suture is attached. A flattened envelope has a slot extending along part of its periphery through which a pull tab, fast with a needle carrier inside the envelope, projects outwardly from the interior of the envelope. The needle carrier is movable in the interior of the envelope towards the slot in response to a pull on the tab and has a needle-engaging formation for urging the needle towards the slot and into engagement with a cam formation fast with the envelope, to urge one end of the needle out of the slot and into a position in which it stands free of the envelope and tab.