With GP practices being closed on Monday 15 June 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 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 15 June 2026
All Pharmacies will be open as normal, except the following pharmacies which will be closed:
East Ayrshire:
- CarePoint Pharmacy, 178 Main Street, Auchinleck
- Cumnock Pharmacy, 9B Townhead Street, Cumnock
- Doon Valley Pharmacy, 5 Cathcartston, Dalmellington
- RW McConnell Pharmacy, 7 West Main Street, Darvel
- Fenwick Pharmacy, 77 Main Road, Fenwick
- RW McConnell Pharmacy, 4 Wallace Street, Galston
- Deans Pharmacy, 27 Mauchline Road, Hurlford
- Houlihan Pharmacy, 120 Glasgow Road, Kilmarnock
- Deans Pharmacy, 53 MacPhail Drive, Kilmarnock
- Logan Pharmacy, Unit 4, Logan Avenue, Logan
- RW McConnell Pharmacy, 30 Main Street, Newmilns
- Stewart Pharmacy, 55 High Street, Stewarton
North Ayrshire:
- Davidsons Chemist, 18 Main Street, Dalry
- JS Shergill Pharmacy, 36 Caldron Road, Irvine
- Townhead Pharmacy, Station Plaza, Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning
- Gallaghers Pharmacy, 17/19 Raise Street, Saltcoats
- J B Spence Pharmacy, 49 Skelmorlie Castle Road, Skelmorlie
- Care Pharmacy, 55 Main Street, Springside
South Ayrshire
- Alloway Pharmacy, 21 Alloway, Ayr
- Seafield Pharmacy, 43/45 Blackburn Drive, Ayr
- Ogg & Co Pharmacy, 44 Newmarket Street, Ayr
- Maybole Pharmacy, 9 High Street, Maybole
- Davidsons Chemist, 47 Brewlands Drive, Symington
- Tarbolton Pharmacy, The Cross, Tarbolton
Ends
Background
- 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).
- Visit NHS Inform to help you and your family stay well with health and wellbeing tips and provide advice about common illnesses, how you can help your symptoms at home- www.nhsinform.scot
- You can find more information about how to access health and care services in Ayrshire and Arran here: https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/healthhub/
- Bank Holiday Opening Times – NHS Ayrshire & Arran