With GP practices being closed on Friday 29 March 2024 and Monday 1 April 2024, 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 pharmacies will remain open during this period (normal service will continue on Saturday) 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 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 seven 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 Easter, when GP practices are closed, you can still get advice from a community pharmacist or NHS 24.
Friday 29 March 2024
All pharmacies will be open, except
- Gallagher Healthcare, 6 Central Avenue, Ardrossan
- Gallagher Healthcare, 41 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan
- Davidsons Chemists, 18 Main Street, Dalry
- Gallagher Healthcare, 1 New Street, Dalry
- Davidsons Chemists, 20 Main Street, Dreghorn
- Townhead Pharmacy, Station Plaza, Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning
- Gallagher Healthcare, 19 Dockhead Street, Saltcoats
- Gallagher Healthcare, 41 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats
- Gallagher Healthcare, 17/19 Raise Street, Saltcoats
- Care Pharmacy, 55 Main Street, Springside
- Gallagher Healthcare, 33 New Street, Stevenston
Saturday 30 March 2024
All pharmacies will be open as normal
Sunday 31 March 2024
All pharmacies will be closed, except
- Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine, from 11am – 5pm
- Superdrug, 6B Aitken Street, Largs, from 11am – 5pm
Monday 1 April 2024
All pharmacies will be closed, except
- Arran Pharmacy, Brodick, Arran, from 9am – 1pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine, from 11am – 5pm
- Superdrug Pharmacy, 6B Aitken Street, Largs, from 9am – 5.30pm