With GP practices being closed on Friday 3 April 2026 and Monday 6 April 2026, Ayrshire and Arran 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 be 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 please visit the Health Hub on our website – https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/healthhub/
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 (www.nhsinform.scot) for valuable advice on how to prepare.
Iain Fulton, Associate Director of Pharmacy explains: “You can do a number of things to make sure you are prepared to deal with common illnesses over the Easter weekend. Make sure you know when your local GP practice and community pharmacy are closed.
“If you take regular medication, check your existing supplies and only order what you need to see you through over the Easter weekend. Remember to consider the time required by your local GP practice and community pharmacy to process prescription requests, as this can add up to seven days.
“Don’t forget to have a sufficient supply of medicines like paracetamol, sore throat and cough remedies, as these can help to relieve the symptoms of common ailments.”
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 bites*;
- 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;
- provide supervised methadone supply; and
- needle exchange.
Friday 3 April 2026 – All pharmacies will be open as normal, except the following pharmacies which will be closed:-
East Ayrshire:
- Davidsons Chemist, 8 Irvine Road, Crosshouse
- Cumnock Pharmacy, 9B Townhead Street, Cumnock
- 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
- Shortlees Pharmacy, 16 Central Avenue, Kilmarnock
- Right Medicine Pharmacy, 90 Main Street, Ochiltree
North Ayrshire:
- Davidsons Chemist, 25 Main Street, Dalry
- Irvine Pharmacy, 8 Bridgegate, Irvine
- Townhead Pharmacy, Station Plaza, Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning
- Gallagher Pharmacy, 17/19 Raise Street, Saltcoats
- Care Pharmacy, 55 Main Street, Springside
South Ayrshire:
- Alloway Pharmacy, 21 Alloway, Ayr
- Ayr Pharmacy, 63/65 Alloway Street, Ayr
- Wellington Square Pharmacy, 26 Wellington Square, Ayr
- Bankfield Pharmacy, 146 Dalmellington Road, Ayr
- Seafield Pharmacy, 43/45 Blackburn Drive, Ayr
- Ogg & Co Pharmacy, 44 Newmarket Street, Ayr
- Coylton Pharmacy, 13 Main Street, Coylton
- Davidsons Chemist, 11 Main Street, Dundonald
- Carrick Pharmacy, 71 High Street, Maybole
- Monkton Pharmacy, Old Primary School, Monkton
- Mossblown Pharmacy, Mauchline Road, Mossblown
- Davidsons Chemist, 47 Brewlands Drive, Symington
- Tarbolton Pharmacy, The Cross, Tarbolton
Saturday 4 April 2026 – All pharmacies will be open as normal
Sunday 5 April 2026 – All pharmacies will be closed, except:
East Ayrshire:
- Boots Pharmacy, 62/70 King Street, Kilmarnock from 12noon – 4pm
- Wm Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock from 10am – 5pm
North Ayrshire:
- Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine from 11am – 5pm
- Superdrug, 6B Aitken Street, Largs from 11am – 5pm
South Ayrshire:
- Boots Pharmacy, 168/170 High Street, Ayr from 12noon – 4pm
- Wm Morrisons Pharmacy, Castlehill Road, Ayr from 9am – 5pm
Monday 6 April 2026 – All Pharmacies will be closed, except:
East Ayrshire:
- Boots Pharmacy, 62/70 King Street, Kilmarnock from 12noon – 4pm
- Right Medicine Pharmacy, 90 Main Street, Ochiltree from 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5.30pm
North Ayrshire:
- Brodick Pharmacy, The old Pier, Brodick, Isle of Arran from 9am – 1pm
- Davidsons Chemist, 25 Main Street, Dreghorn, from 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5.30pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine from 11am – 5pm
- Cumbrae Pharmacy, 30 Stuart Street, Millport from 9am – 5.30pm
- Care Pharmacy, 55 Main Street, Springside from 9am – 5.30pm
South Ayrshire:
- Boots Pharmacy, 168/170 High Street, Ayr from 12noon – 4pm