Easter pharmacy opening times
With GP practices being closed on Friday 7 and Monday 10 April, East Ayrshire 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 pharmacists will remain open during this period and can answer questions on choosing and using the right medicine. They can also provide easy-to-understand advice on treating everyday ailments.
NHS 24 has a number of pharmacists who are able to answer medicine and pharmacy-related questions over the telephone on 111.
You can also visit NHS inform for more advice.
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 Easter weekend. Have 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 several days.”
Your community pharmacist can:
- prescribe medication for you following a consultation, under the Pharmacy First service
- treat many women from age 16 for urinary tract infections under the Pharmacy First service*
- treat many patients for impetigo under the Pharmacy First service*
- treat patients over 18 for skin infections, including infected insect bites, under the Pharmacy First service*
- treat patients over 18 for shingles under the Pharmacy First service*
- 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; and
- give you advice on the best way to take your medicines
(*where they meet certain criteria)
Many pharmacies also offer:
- advice on travel health;
- pregnancy testing;
- collection and delivery of prescriptions;
- supervised methadone supply; and
- needle exchange.
Please do not visit your community pharmacy if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.
See below for a full list of pharmacy Easter opening times
Good Friday – 7 April 2023
Most pharmacies will be open as normal, except:
- Davidsons Chemist, 4/8 Irvine Road, Crosshouse
- 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
- Right Medicine Pharmacy, 90 Main Street, Ochiltree
The following pharmacy is open however opening times have been amended:
- Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock – 10am – 5pm
Saturday 8 April 2023
All pharmacies will be open as normal
Sunday 9 April 2023
All pharmacies will be closed, except:
- Boots Pharmacy, 62/70 King Street, Kilmarnock – 12noon – 4pm
- Morrisons Pharmacy, West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock – 10am – 5pm
Easter Monday – 10 April 2023
All pharmacies will be closed, except:
- Boots Pharmacy, 62/70 King Street, Kilmarnock – 12noon – 4pm
- Right Medicine Pharmacy, 90 Main Street, Ochiltree – 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5.30pm
Additional information
For more information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) please visit NHS inform.
If you don’t have symptoms and are looking for general information on COVID-19, call NHS Inform’s free helpline: 0800 028 2816.
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).
