A reduced-pressure treatment system for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site on a patient, the reduced-pressure treatment system comprising: a reduced-pressure source for supplying reduced pressure; a treatment manifold for placing proximate the tissue site and adapted to distribute reduced pressure to the tissue site; a sealing member (161, 315) for placing over the tissue site, wherein the sealing member is adapted to form a fluid seal, and wherein the sealing member has a treatment aperture; and a delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end and a first side and a second, patient-facing side, wherein the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge at least partially fluidly couples the treatment manifold and the reduced-pressure source, the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge comprising: a delivery manifold extending along a length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge for delivering reduced pressure through the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the delivery manifold comprising a first material, an absorbent layer proximate the delivery manifold and adapted to receive, absorb, and store liquids within the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the absorbent layer comprising a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material have differing properties, a first encapsulating layer and a second encapsulating layer at least partially enclosing the delivery manifold and the absorbent layer, wherein a first aperture is formed on the first side of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge proximate the first longitudinal end, the first aperture is fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source, and wherein a second aperture is formed on the second side of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge proximate the second longitudinal end, the second aperture is fluidly coupled to the treatment manifold over the treatment aperture in the sealing member, and characterised in that the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge further comprises a conduit disposed between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer, wherein the conduit extends substantially along the length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge to facilitate measurement of pressure proximate the tissue site and to monitor pressure at the second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge.. a reduced-pressure source for supplying reduced pressure; a treatment manifold for placing proximate the tissue site and adapted to distribute reduced pressure to the tissue site; a sealing member (161, 315) for placing over the tissue site, wherein the sealing member is adapted to form a fluid seal, and wherein the sealing member has a treatment aperture; and a delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end and a first side and a second, patient-facing side, wherein the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge at least partially fluidly couples the treatment manifold and the reduced-pressure source, the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge comprising: a delivery manifold extending along a length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge for delivering reduced pressure through the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the delivery manifold comprising a first material, an absorbent layer proximate the delivery manifold and adapted to receive, absorb, and store liquids within the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the absorbent layer comprising a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material have differing properties, a first encapsulating layer and a second encapsulating layer at least partially enclosing the delivery manifold and the absorbent layer, a delivery manifold extending along a length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge for delivering reduced pressure through the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the delivery manifold comprising a first material, an absorbent layer proximate the delivery manifold and adapted to receive, absorb, and store liquids within the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the absorbent layer comprising a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material have differing properties, a first encapsulating layer and a second encapsulating layer at least partially enclosing the delivery manifold and the absorbent layer, wherein a first aperture is formed on the first side of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge proximate the first longitudinal end, the first aperture is fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source, and wherein a second aperture is formed on the second side of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge proximate the second longitudinal end, the second aperture is fluidly coupled to the treatment manifold over the treatment aperture in the sealing member, and characterised in that the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge further comprises a conduit disposed between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer, wherein the conduit extends substantially along the length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge to facilitate measurement of pressure proximate the tissue site and to monitor pressure at the second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge..