With GP practices being closed on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 January 2025, 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 and can answer questions on choosing and using the right medicine and provide easy-to-understand advice on treating everyday ailments. For information about how to access a wide range of healthcare services this winter please visit the Winter Health hub on our website – https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/winter-health-care/
In addition, NHS 24 also has a number of pharmacists who are able to answer medicine and pharmacy-related questions over the telephone on 111 or visit NHS inform (http://www.nhsinform.scot.) for valuable advice on how to prepare this winter.
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 New Year period. Having 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 seven days”.
Under the Pharmacy First service, pharmacies can:
- prescribe medication for you following a consultation*;
- treat many women from age 16 for urinary tract infections*;
- treat many patients for impetigo*;
- treat patients over 18 for skin infections including infected insect*;
- treat patients over 18 for shingles*;
(*where they meet certain criteria)
Many community pharmacies also:
- 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;
- give you advice on the best way to take your medicines;
- provide advice on travel health;
- provide collection and delivery of prescriptions;
- supervised methadone supply; and
- needle exchange.
Tuesday 31 December 2024
Most pharmacies will be open as normal, except those listed below which will close early:
East Ayrshire:
- Doon Valley Pharmacy, 5 Cathcartston, Dalmellington open from 9am – 1pm and 2pm -5.30pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 63 Grange Street, Kilmarnock open from 8.30am – 5.30pm
- Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock open from 8.30am – 5.30pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 1 Doonside Avenue, Patna open from 8.30am – 5.30pm
- Stewart Pharmacy, 55 High Street, Stewarton open from 9am – 5.30pm
North Ayrshire:
- Davidsons Chemists, 18 Main Street, Dalry open from 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5.30pm
- Townhead Pharmacy, Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning open from 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5.30pm
- Halliday Pharmacy, 5 Aitken Street, Largs open from 8.30am – 5.30pm
- Superdrug, 6B Aitken Street, Largs open from 9am – 5.30pm
- Morrisons Pharmacy, 4 Irvine Road, Largs open from 9am – 5.30pm
South Ayrshire:
- Seafield Pharmacy, 43/45 Blackburn Drive, Ayr open from 9am – 5.30pm
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Castlehill Road, Ayr open from 8.30am – 5.30pm
- Coylton Pharmacy, 13A Main Street, Coylton open from 9am – 1pm and 2.15pm – 5.30pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 89-91 Main Street, Prestwick open from 9am – 5.30pm
- Stevenson Chemist, 131 Deveron Road, Troon open from 9am – 5.30pm
- Willis Pharmacy, 15 Templehill, Troon open from 8.45am – 5.30pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025
All pharmacies will be closed, except:
East Ayrshire:
- Houlihan Pharmacy, 120 Glasgow Road, Kilmarnock open from 11am – 1pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 9/11 St Marnock Street, Kilmarnock open from 1pm – 3pm
North Ayrshire:
- JS Shergill, 36 Caldon Road, Irvine open from 10am – 12noon
- Irvine Pharmacy, 154/156 High Street, Irvine open from 12noon – 2pm
South Ayrshire:
- Alloway Pharmacy, 21 Alloway, Alloway open from 12noon – 2pm
- Bankfield Pharmacy, 146 Dalmellington Road, Ayr open from 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Thursday 2 January 2025
All pharmacies will be closed, except:
East Ayrshire:
- Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock open from 10am – 4pm
- E Templeton, 14 Dean Street, Kilmarnock open from 11am – 1pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 9 Portland Road, Kilmarnock open from 1pm – 3pm
North Ayrshire:
- Rowlands Pharmacy, 151 Main Street, Kilwinning open from 10am – 12noon
- Morrisons Pharmacy, 4 Irvine Road, Largs open from 10am – 4pm
- Boots Pharmacy, Unit 2B, East Road Irvine open from 12noon – 2pm
South Ayrshire:
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Castlehill Road, Ayr open from 10am – 4pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 168/170 High Street, Ayr open from 12noon – 4pm
- Seafield Pharmacy, 43/45 Blackburn Drive, Ayr open from 2pm – 4pm
Background
- Getting vaccinated is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself against viruses circulating this winter. More information visit https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/vaccines/ to find out about the vaccine you may be eligible for, and how you’ll be offered them.
- 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).