Know Where to Turn to For Health Support This Easter

A range of health services and support will be available during the Easter break to ensure that people across Forth Valley can access treatment and advice.

This year the majority of GP surgeries across Forth Valley will close for four days from Good Friday (30^th March 2018) to Easter Monday (2^nd April 2018), before re-opening on Tuesday 3^rd April 2018.

The Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Stirling Community Hospital will be open every day throughout the Easter holiday period from 9am – 9pm and no appointment is necessary. The MIU is able to treat adults and children over the age of one from across Forth Valley for a wide range of minor injuries including suspected broken bones, sprains and strains, cuts and scratches, minor burns and infected wounds.

The majority of pharmacies across Forth Valley will be open as normal on Friday 30^th March and Saturday 31^st March 2018. A rota-system will operate on Monday 2^nd April 2018 to ensure local people can access over the counter medicines, prescriptions and speak to a pharmacist. Details of the opening times for Easter Monday can be found on the Easter zone of the NHS Forth Valley website www.nhsforthvalley.com/spring-zone

If you think you may need to see a GP when your local surgery is closed you should contact NHS 24 on 111 who can arrange for you to be seen at a GP out-of-hours centre in Forth Valley, if necessary.

NHS Forth Valley’s Medical Director Andrew Murray explained: “You can help keep you and your family healthy over the Easter break by planning ahead. This includes knowing when your GP surgery and local pharmacy will be open and making sure you have enough prescribed medication to last over the holiday period.

“You can also help avoid putting extra strain on busy hospital services by making use of the Minor Injuries Unit at Stirling Community Hospital, seeking advice from a local pharmacist or calling the NHS 24 helpline on 111 if your condition is not urgent.”

General health information and advice can be found on NHS Inform http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/easter or by phoning 0800 22 44 88. Local health service information, including pharmacy opening times across Forth Valley, can be found at www.nhsforthvalley.com/spring-zone

Monday 2^nd April 2018 (Easter Monday) – Pharmacy Opening Times

Stirling

Boots the Chemist (Stirling)                                   8.30am – 6.00pm

Tesco Pharmacy (Stirling)                                      9.00am – 6.00pm

Lloyds Pharmacy (Sainsbury’s)                           8.00am – 9.00pm

Lindsay & Gilmour (St. Ninians)                          9.00am – 6.00pm

Lindsay & Gilmour (Bannockburn)                     10.00am – 4.00pm

M.Farren (Callander)                                              9.00am – 4.00pm

Woodside Pharmacy (Doune)                                9.00am – 1.00pm

Falkirk

Boots the Chemist (Falkirk)                                    9.00am – 5.30pm

Tesco Pharmacy (Falkirk)                                      9.00am – 6.00pm

Lindsay & Gilmour Pharmacy (Bonnybridge)     9.00am – 1.00pm

2.00pm – 6.00pm

Boots the Chemist (Grangemouth)                     12noon – 4.00pm

Lindsay & Gilmour Pharmacy (Grangemouth)    12noon – 4.00pm

Clackmannanshire

Boots the Chemist (Alloa)                                       8.30am – 5.30pm

Lindsay & Gilmour Pharmacy (Sauchie)             10.00am – 4.00pm

The Central Pharmacy (Tullibody)                        9.00am – 6.00pm

Issued by NHS Forth Valley’s Communications Department on 01786 457243.