With GP practices being closed on Friday 22 September and Monday 25 September 2023, North Ayrshire residents are being urged to check who to turn to if they need advice or support to cope with any common health concerns.
Some community pharmacists will remain open during this period (normal service will continue on Thursday 21, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September) and can answer questions on choosing and using the right medicine and provide easy-to-understand advice on treating everyday ailments. NHS 24 also has a number of pharmacists who are able to answer medicine and pharmacy-related questions over the telephone on 111. In addition, NHS inform has valuable advice on how to prepare, for more information visit – http://www.nhsinform.scot
Roisin Kavanagh, Director of Pharmacy, explains: “You can do a number of things to make sure you are prepared to deal with common illnesses over the bank holiday weekend. Have a sufficient supply of medicines like paracetamol, sore throat and cough remedies will help to relieve the symptoms of common ailments.
“If you take regular medication, you should check your existing supplies and only order what you need to see you through over the holiday weekend. It is also a good idea to make sure you know when your local GP practice and community pharmacy are closed. Please also take into consideration the time required by your local GP Practice and community pharmacy for processing prescription requests as this can add up to several days.”
Your community pharmacist can:
- prescribe medication for you following a consultation, under the Pharmacy First service
- treat many women from age 16 for urinary tract infections under the Pharmacy First service*
- treat many patients for impetigo under the Pharmacy First service*
- treat patients over 18 for skin infections including infected insect bites under the Pharmacy First service*
- treat patients over 18 for shingles under the Pharmacy First service*
- provide your repeat prescriptions when your GP is not available (under certain circumstances)
- give women advice and supply emergency hormonal contraception;
- dispense prescriptions
- give advice, support and where appropriate, prescribe nicotine replacement therapy to those giving up smoking
- hold records of your medicines to ensure that the safety of any future medication is checked
- provide a private area to discuss sensitive issues
- give you advice over the telephone; and
- give you advice on the best way to take your medicines
(*where they meet certain criteria)
Many pharmacies also offer:
- advice on travel health;
- pregnancy testing;
- collection and delivery of prescriptions;
- supervised methadone supply; and
- needle exchange.
Please do not visit your community pharmacy if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.
Over the September weekend, when GP practices are closed, you can still get advice from a community pharmacist or NHS 24.
Friday 22 September 2023
Most pharmacies will be open as normal, except:
- Davidsons Chemist, 18 Main Street, Dalry
- Davidsons Chemist, 20 Main Street, Dreghorn
- Rowlands Pharmacy, 151 Main Street, Kilwinning
- Townhead Pharmacy, Station Plaza, Pennyburn, Kilwinning
- Gallagher Pharmacy, 17/19 Raise Street, Saltcoats
- Care Pharmacy, 55 Main Street, Springside
The following pharmacies are open however opening times have been amended:
- Gallagher’s Pharmacy, 6 Central Avenue, Ardrossan open 11am – 1.30pm and 2pm – 5.30pm
- Gallagher’s Pharmacy , 41 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan open 11am – 1pm and 1.30pm – 5.30pm
- Gallagher’s Pharmacy , 1 New Street, Dalry open 11am – 1pm and 1.30pm – 5.30pm
- Gallagher’s Pharmacy, 19 Dockhead Street, Saltcoats open 11am – 1pm and 1.30pm – 5.30pm
- Gallagher’s Pharmacy, 41 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats open 11am – 1.30pm and 2pm – 5.30pm
- Gallagher’s Pharmacy , 33 New Street, Stevenston open 11am – 1pm and 1.30pm – 5.30pm
Saturday 23 September 2023
All pharmacies will be open as normal except
- Arran Pharmacy, Shore Road, Whiting Bay, Isle of Arran
- Boots Pharmacy, 2A Dalry Road, Kilbirnie
- Gallagher Pharmacy, 17/19 Raise Street, Saltcoats
- J B Spence, 49 Skelmorlie Castle Road, Skelmorlie
Sunday 24 September 2023
All pharmacies will be closed, except:
- Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine open 11am – 5pm
- Superdrug, 6B Aitken Street, Largs open 11am – 5pm
Monday 25 September 2023
All pharmacies will be closed, except:
- Arran Pharmacy, Brodick, Isle of Arran open 9am – 1pm
- Well Pharmacy, 18/20 Main Street, Beith open 9am – 5.30pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine open 12noon – 4pm
- Superdrug, 6B Aitken Street, Largs open 9am – 5.30pm
- Halliday Pharmacy, 5 Aitken Street, Largs open 8.30am – 4pm
- Morrisons Pharmacy, 4 Irvine Road, Largs open 10am – 5pm
- Cumbrae Pharmacy, 30 Stuart Street, Millport open 9am – 5.30pm
Background
- Getting vaccinated is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself against viruses circulating this winter. More information is available on Winter vaccines | NHS inform including a self-help guide that helps citizens to find out about the vaccine you may be eligible for, and how you’ll be offered them.
- For more information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) please visit: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
- For any other health-related concerns, NHS Inform should be the first point of contact, or call your GP during opening hours. If your GP practice is closed and your query can’t wait you can still call NHS 24 (on 111).