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Pharmacies open in Ayrshire on New Year’s Day and 2 January 2026

  • by NHSAAA
Hand reaching onto a shelf containing boxes of medicine

With GP practices being closed on Thursday 1 January 2026 and Friday 2 January 2026, residents of Ayrshire and Arran 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 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 Winter 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/campaigns/prepare-for-winter/) 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 New Year period.  Having 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”.

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;
  • advice on travel health;
  • collection and delivery of prescriptions;
  • supervised methadone supply; and
  • needle exchange.

Wednesday 31 December 2025

Most pharmacies will be open as normal, except those listed below which will close early at 5.30pm:

East Ayrshire:

  • Doon Valley Pharmacy, 5 Cathcartston, Dalmellington
  • Boots Pharmacy, 63 Grange Street, Kilmarnock
  • Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock
  • Deans Pharmacy, 53 MacPhail Drive, Kilmarnock
  • Boots Pharmacy, 1 Doonside Avenue, Patna
  • Stewart Pharmacy, 55 High Street, Stewarton

North Ayrshire:

  • Davidsons Chemists, 18 Main Street, Dalry
  • Shergill Pharmacy, 36 Caldon Road, Irvine
  • Townhead Pharmacy, Station Plaza, Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning
  • Superdrug Pharmacy – 6B Aitken Street, Largs
  • Halliday Pharmacy, 5 Aitken Street, Largs
  • Morrisons Pharmacy, 4 Irvine Road, Largs

South Ayrshire:

  • Morrisons Pharmacy, Castlehill Road, Ayr
  • Seafield Pharmacy, 43/45 Blackburn Drive, Ayr
  • Stevenson Pharmacy, 131 Deveron Road, Troon
  • Willis Pharmacy, 15 Templehill, Troon

Thursday 1 January 2026

All pharmacies will be closed, except the following pharmacies:

East Ayrshire:

  • Boots Pharmacy, 63 Grange Street, Kilmarnock from 11am – 1pm
  • Bellfield Pharmacy, 79 Whatriggs Road, Kilmarnock from 1pm – 3pm

North Ayrshire:

  • Gallaghers Pharmacy, 6 Central Avenue, Ardrossan from 10am – 12noon
  • Boots Pharmacy, 9a Frew Terrace, Irvine from 12noon – 2pm

South Ayrshire:

  • Boots Pharmacy, 99 New Road, Ayr from 12noon – 2pm
  • Toll Pharmacy, 153 Ayr Road, Prestwick from 2pm – 4pm

Friday 2 January 2026

All Pharmacies will be closed, except the following pharmacies:

East Ayrshire:

  • Boots Pharmacy, 62/70 King Street, Kilmarnock from 11am – 1pm
  • Kilmaurs Pharmacy, 5 Main Street, Kilmaurs from 1pm – 3pm

North Ayrshire:

  • Penmans Pharmacy, 2 Eglinton Street, Beith from 9am – 1pm
  • Rowlands Pharmacy, 28/30 New Street, Stevenston from 10am – 12noon
  • Boots Pharmacy, 9 Lower Vennel, Irvine from 12noon – 2pm

South Ayrshire:

  • Morrisons Pharmacy, Castlehill Road, Ayr from 10am – 4pm
  • Willis Pharmacy, 15 Templehill, Troon from 12noon – 2pm
  • Boots Pharmacy, 168/170 High Street, Ayr from 12noon – 4pm
  • Wellington Square Pharmacy, 26 Wellington Square, Ayr from 2pm – 4pm

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