Pharmacy opening times over Easter weekend
GP practices in East Ayrshire will be closed on Friday 15 and Monday 18 April for the Easter weekend, and residents are being urged to prepare 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. 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.
Roisin Kavanagh, Director of Pharmacy, explains: “You can do a number of things to make sure you are prepared to deal with common illnesses, such as having a sufficient supply of medicines like paracetamol, indigestion remedies and medicines especially for children. Your pharmacist can advise on the most suitable ones to keep at home, as these 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 ensure you have enough to see you through the holiday weekend. It is also a good idea to make sure you know when your local GP practice and community pharmacy are closed.”
Your community pharmacist can:
- prescribe medication for you following a consultation, under the Pharmacy First service;
- treat many women from age 16 to 65 for urinary tract infections under the Pharmacy First service*;
- treat many patients from two years of age for impetigo under the Pharmacy First service*;
- treat patients over 18 for skin infections including infected insect bites under the Pharmacy First service*;
- manage 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. Please book a test and self-isolate immediately.
We would like to remind people of the symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19): a new persistent cough; high temperature; and/or loss of taste and smell. Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should book a test and self-isolate immediately. To book a PCR test visit www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or https://www.nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect or call 0800 028 2816.
Over Easter, when GP practices are closed, you can still get advice from a community pharmacist or NHS 24.
Good Friday – 15 April 2022
Most pharmacies will be open as normal, except:
- Davidsons Chemists, 4/8 Irvine Road, Crosshouse
- Doon Valley Pharmacy, 5 Cathcartston, Dalmellington
- Dalrymple Pharmacy, 6 Main Street, Dalrymple
- Drongan Pharmacy, 64 Mill ‘O’ Shield Road, Drongan
- Fenwick Pharmacy, 77 Main Road, Fenwick
- Stewart Pharmacy, 55 High Street, Stewarton
Saturday 16 April 2022
All pharmacies will be open as normal.
Sunday 17 April 2022
All pharmacies will be closed, except:
- Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock – 10am – 4pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 62/70 King Street, Kilmarnock – 12noon – 4pm
Easter Monday – 18 April 2022
All pharmacies will be closed, except:
- Boots Pharmacy, 62/70 King Street, Kilmarnock – 12noon – 4pm
- Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock – 10am – 5pm
