North Ayrshire residents are being urged to check who to turn to if they need advice or support to cope with any common health concerns.

GP practices across the area will be closed for Easter on Friday April 7 and Monday, April 10. 

Some community pharmacists 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.

NHS 24 also has a number of pharmacists who are able to answer medicine and pharmacy-related questions over the telephone on 111. In addition, NHS Inform has valuable advice on its website (nhsinform.scot).

Roisin Kavanagh, director of pharmacy at NHS 24, said: “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.”

Please do not visit your community pharmacy if you have any symptoms of Covid-19.

Over Easter, when GP practices are closed, you can still get advice from a community pharmacist or NHS 24.  

Good Friday – 7 April 2022

Most pharmacies will be open as normal, except for the following, which will be completely closed.

Davidsons Chemist, 18 Main Street, Dalry

Davidsons Chemist, 20 Main Street, Dreghorn

Lawthorn Pharmacy, 1 Cardow Crescent, Irvine

Townhead Pharmacy, Station Plaza, Pennyburn, Kilwinning

Gallagher Pharmacy, 17/19 Raise Street, Saltcoats

Care Pharmacy, 55 Main Street, Springside

The following pharmacies will be open, however opening times have been amended:

Gallagher’s Pharmacy, 6 Central Avenue, Ardrossan – 10am-1.30pm & 2-5.30pm

Gallagher’s Pharmacy , 41 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan - 10am-1pm & 1.30-5.30pm

Gallagher’s Pharmacy , 1 New Street, Dalry - 10am-1pm & 1.30-5.30pm

Gallagher’s Pharmacy, 19 Dockhead Street, Saltcoats – 10am-1pm & 1.30-5.30pm

Gallagher’s Pharmacy, 41 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats – 10am-1.30pm & 2-5.30pm

Gallagher’s Pharmacy , 33 New Street, Stevenston - 10am-1pm & 1.30-5.30pm

Morrisons Pharmacy, 4 Irvine Road, Largs – 10am-5pm

Saturday 8 April 2022

All pharmacies will be open as normal.

Sunday 9 April 2022

All pharmacies will be closed, except:

Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine – 11am-5pm

Superdrug Pharmacy, 6B Aitken Street, Largs– 11am-5pm

Easter Monday – 10 April 2022

All pharmacies will be closed, except:

Brodick Pharmacy, Brodick, Isle of Arran – 9am-1pm

Boots Pharmacy, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine – 12noon-4pm

Cumbrae Pharmacy, 30 Stuart Street, Millport – 9am-1pm & 2-5.30pm