Everyone’s hoping for a happy, healthy and safe festive season here in Stevenston - but just in case, we’ve put together all the information you need about doctors, pharmacies and local council services over the Christmas and New Year period.

With a few exceptions, all council offices and facilities will be closed from 4.30pm on Friday 23 December 2011 until 9am on Wednesday 4 January, 2012

Contrary to a notice published this week, there is in fact no change to refuse collection dates in North Ayrshire this Christmas – so your bins will be emptied on the regular day.

You can find full details of Christmas arrangements here on the North Ayrshire website.

Ayrshire and Arran’s community pharmacies can help you battle the winter blues with a healthy dose of good advice.

Community pharmacists can answer questions on choosing and using the right medicine and provide easy-to-understand advice on treating everyday ailments such as coughs, colds and flu. NHS 24 also has a number of community pharmacists who are able to answer medicine and pharmacy-related questions over the telephone on 08454 24 24 24.

The public can also do a number of things to ensure they are prepared to deal with common illnesses for the coming months.

Have a sufficient supply of medicines like paracetamol, sore throat and cough remedies, as these will help to relieve the symptoms of common winter ailments. People who take regular medication should ensure they have enough to see them through the weekends, public holidays and holidays away from home.

What your community pharmacist can do

If you qualify for the Minor Ailments Service your community pharmacist may prescribe medication for you following a consultation

Give you advice on the best way to take your medicines

Give women advice and supply emergency hormonal contraception

Dispense prescriptions

Give advice on diet and exercise

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

Many pharmacies also offer

Advice on travel health

Pregnancy testing

Collection and delivery of prescriptions

Oxygen supply

Supervised methadone supply

Needle exchange

Over Christmas, GP practices will be closed for four days at Christmas (Saturday 24 December – Tuesday 27 December) and will re-open on Wednesday 28 December.  During this time, people can still get advice from their community pharmacist. The following pharmacies are open during the festive holidays.

Saturday 24 December 2011

All pharmacies will open and close at their normal Saturday opening times.

Sunday 25 December 2011

L.J. Wilson, 20 Main Street, Dreghorn, 2pm – 4pm

Boots UK Ltd, 9 Lower Vennel, Bourtreehill, Irvine, 12 noon – 2pm

Monday 26 December 2011

Boots the Chemist, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine, 11am – 5pm

Lloyds Pharmacy, 154/156 High Street, Irvine, 9am – 1pm

Superdrug, 6B Aitken Street, Largs, 10am – 4pm

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Boots the Chemist, 1 Fullarton Square, Irvine, 11am – 5pm

Lloyds, 154/156 High Street, Irvine, 9am – 1pm

Your local Boots, Unit 2B, East Road, Irvine, 11am – 3pm

Boots, 78 Main Street, Kilbirnie, 9am – 1pm

Boots UK Ltd, 27 Almswall Road, Kilwinning, 101am – 2pm

Superdrug, 6B Aitken Street, Largs, 10am – 4pm

Morrisons, 4 Irvine Road, Largs, 9am – 6pm

Boots UK Ltd, 42 Main Street, Largs, 11am – 3pm

If you need a doctor urgently and your GP’s surgery is closed, call NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.

For emergency dental treatment, call NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24

Merry Christmas and a happy new year from everyone here at s1! Share your messages, news and festive greetings here on s1stevenston