With GP practices being closed on Monday 4 May 2026, residents of Ayrshire and Arran are being reminded of where 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.
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. 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 bank holiday 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.
Monday 4 May 2026
All pharmacies will be closed, except the following, which will be open as follows:
East Ayrshire:
- Boots Pharmacy, 62/70 King Street, Kilmarnock from 12noon – 4pm
- Well Pharmacy, 1/5 Loudoun Street, Mauchline from 9am – 6pm
- M Farren, 45 Main Street, Muirkirk from 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm
- 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
- Well Pharmacy, 18/20 Main Street, Beith from 9am – 6pm
- Davidsons Chemist, 25 Main Street, Dreghorn from 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5.30pm
- Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine from 11am – 5pm
- Lawthorn Pharmacy, 1 Cardow Crescent, Irvine from 9am – 5.30pm
- Superdrug Pharmacy, 6B Aitken Street, Largs from 10am – 4pm
- Halliday Pharmacy, 5 Aitken Street, Largs from 8.30am – 1pm
- Cumbrae Pharmacy, 30 Stuart Street, Millport from 9am – 5.30pm
South Ayrshire
- Boots Pharmacy, 168/170 High Street, Ayr from 11am – 3pm
- Well Pharmacy, 10/12 Sandgate, Ayr from 8.30am – 5.30pm