With GP practices being closed on Friday 18 September and Monday 21 September 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.
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.
Friday 18 September 2026 – Most pharmacies will be open, however some pharmacies may be operating reduced hours, except the following pharmacies which will be closed:
East Ayrshire:
- Davidsons Chemist, 4/8 Irvine Road, Crosshouse
- Cumnock Pharmacy, 9B Townhead Street, Cumnock
- Doon Valley Pharmacy, 5 Cathcartston, Dalmellington
- Dalrymple Pharmacy, 5a Barbieston Road, Dalrymple, KA6 6DZ
- Drongan Pharmacy, 64 Mill ‘O’ Shield Road, Drongan
- Fenwick Pharmacy, 77 Main Road, Fenwick
- Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock
- Shortlees Pharmacy, 16 Central Avenue, Kilmarnock
North Ayrshire:
- Davidsons Chemist, 18 Main Street, Dalry
- Irvine Pharmacy, 8 Bridgegate, Irvine
- Townhead Pharmacy, Station Plaza, Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning
- Morrisons Pharmacy, 4 Irvine Road, Largs
- Gallaghers 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
- Rowlands Pharmacy, 29 Mount Oliphant Crescent, Ayr
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Castlehill Road, Ayr
- Bankfield Pharmacy, 146 Dalmellington Road, Ayr
- Ogg & Co Pharmacy, 44 Newmarket Street, Ayr
- Seafield Pharmacy, 43/45 Blackburn Drive, Ayr
- Coylton Pharmacy, 13 Main Street, Coylton
- Davidsons Chemist, 11 Main Street, Dundonald
- Carrick Pharmacy, 71 High Street Maybole
- Mossblown Pharmacy, Mauchline Road, Mossblown
- Davidsons Chemist, 47 Brewlands Drive, Symington
- Tarbolton Pharmacy, The Cross, Tarbolton
Saturday 19September 2026 – All pharmacies will be open as normal
Sunday 20 September 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 21 September 2026
All pharmacies will be closed, except the following pharmacies which will remain open as follows:
East Ayrshire:
- Boots Pharmacy, 62-70 King Street, Kilmarnock from, 12noon – 4pm
- Deans Pharmacy, 53 MacPhail Drive, Kilmarnock from, 9am – 6pm
- Well Pharmacy, 1/5 Loudoun Street, Mauchline from, 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 6pm
- M Farren Pharmacy, 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:
- Arran Pharmacy, Shore Road, 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
- Superdrug Pharmacy, 6B Aitken Street, Largs from, 10am – 4pm
- Halliday Pharmacy, 5 Aitken Street, Largs from, 8.30am – 1pm
- Cumbrae Pharmacy, 30 Stuart Street, Isle of Cumbrae 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