A reduced-pressure dressing (106, 206) for applying reduced pressure treatment to a tissue site (102,202), the reduced-pressure dressing comprising: an absorbent pouch (114, 214) comprising: a manifold layer (124, 224) adapted to deliver reduced pressure to the tissue site, an absorbent layer (110, 210) in fluid communication with the manifold layer to absorb liquid from at least one of the manifold layer and the tissue site, and a first cover (126,226) positioned over the absorbent layer and the manifold layer to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site; and an electronics pouch (116, 216) removably coupled to the absorbent pouch by means of a removable coupling, the electronics pouch comprising: a pump (108, 208) adapted to provide fluid communication to the tissue site through at least one of the absorbent layer and the manifold layer; and a second cover having a first electronics cover (120, 220) and a second electronics cover (122, 222), the second electronics cover coupled to the first electronics cover and the pump positioned between the first electronics cover and the second electronics cover; characterised by the second cover comprises a perforation and a tab (130, 230), and the perforation is operable to tear in response to the application of a separating force to the tab, thereby separating the electronics pouch from the absorbent pouch. an absorbent pouch (114, 214) comprising: a manifold layer (124, 224) adapted to deliver reduced pressure to the tissue site, an absorbent layer (110, 210) in fluid communication with the manifold layer to absorb liquid from at least one of the manifold layer and the tissue site, and a first cover (126,226) positioned over the absorbent layer and the manifold layer to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site; and an electronics pouch (116, 216) removably coupled to the absorbent pouch by means of a removable coupling, the electronics pouch comprising: a pump (108, 208) adapted to provide fluid communication to the tissue site through at least one of the absorbent layer and the manifold layer; and a second cover having a first electronics cover (120, 220) and a second electronics cover (122, 222), the second electronics cover coupled to the first electronics cover and the pump positioned between the first electronics cover and the second electronics cover; characterised by the second cover comprises a perforation and a tab (130, 230), and the perforation is operable to tear in response to the application of a separating force to the tab, thereby separating the electronics pouch from the absorbent pouch. a manifold layer (124, 224) adapted to deliver reduced pressure to the tissue site, an absorbent layer (110, 210) in fluid communication with the manifold layer to absorb liquid from at least one of the manifold layer and the tissue site, and a first cover (126,226) positioned over the absorbent layer and the manifold layer to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site; and an electronics pouch (116, 216) removably coupled to the absorbent pouch by means of a removable coupling, the electronics pouch comprising: a pump (108, 208) adapted to provide fluid communication to the tissue site through at least one of the absorbent layer and the manifold layer; and a second cover having a first electronics cover (120, 220) and a second electronics cover (122, 222), the second electronics cover coupled to the first electronics cover and the pump positioned between the first electronics cover and the second electronics cover; a pump (108, 208) adapted to provide fluid communication to the tissue site through at least one of the absorbent layer and the manifold layer; and a second cover having a first electronics cover (120, 220) and a second electronics cover (122, 222), the second electronics cover coupled to the first electronics cover and the pump positioned between the first electronics cover and the second electronics cover; characterised by the second cover comprises a perforation and a tab (130, 230), and the perforation is operable to tear in response to the application of a separating force to the tab, thereby separating the electronics pouch from the absorbent pouch.