Beith Health Centre - GP Practice

29/12/2025

HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF WINTER ILLNESSES SUCH AS FLU - Health Board Communication.

To prevent the spread of flu, we continue to recommend regular handwashing and advise people with symptoms of respiratory illness to stay home where possible and away from hospitals until you’re feeling better.

If you have flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, cough or feeling tired and achy – try to limit contact with others, especially those at higher risk, like babies, older adults and those with underlying health conditions.

If you do need to go out when unwell, please consider wearing face covering.

For more information and simple steps you can take to help stop the spread of winter illnesses visit nhsinform.scot/flu

11/12/2025

NHS Ayrshire and Arran have just updated their information regarding visiting restrictions at all NHS Ayrshire and Arran sites.

Visiting Update: NHS Ayrshire & Arran Hospitals
We are re-introducing non-essential visiting at set times across our hospitals following a recent period of essential visiting only.

From Thursday 11 December, visiting will be permitted at the following times (each patient can have one visitor):

• 2pm – 3pm (afternoon)
• 7pm – 8pm (evening)

Exceptions remain for:
• End-of-life care
• Patients needing additional support due to cognitive impairment or complex care needs (please speak to the Senior Charge Nurse).

Please do not visit if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms.
Face masks remain available at ward entrances, and we encourage visitors to wear them.

Remember: the seasonal flu vaccination is the best protection. Regular handwashing, covering coughs/sneezes, and careful disposal of tissues all help stop viruses spreading.

You can find information on staying well this winter on our winter health hub: https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/healthhub/

We will continue to monitor the situation daily and provide updates as needed.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support in keeping patients, staff, and visitors safe.

https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/healthhub/ visiting-restrictions/

08/12/2025

FESTIVE HOLIDAY NOTICE

The practice will be closed on:

Thursday 25th & Friday 26th of December 2025.
Thursday 1st & Friday 2nd January 2026

E-CONSULT SERVICE UPDATE

Please note that e-Consult will be unavailable from Wednesday 24th December 2025 to 5th January 2026.

During this period, we will be operating an “on-the-day urgent appointment system”. We kindly ask that routine, non-urgent matters be held until e-Consult becomes available again.

PRESCRIPTION ORDERS

To ensure all prescription requests are processed in time for the festive closures, we kindly ask all patients to check their current medications now. If your supplies are running low, please place your orders by Wednesday 17th December. This will guarantee your prescription is ready to collect from your chosen collection point by Wednesday 24th December.

Please note that late prescription requests cannot be guaranteed.

PHARMACY FESTIVE HOURS

Well Pharmacy closed – 25th & 26th December 2025.
Well Pharmacy closed – 1st & 2nd of January 2026.

Penmans Pharmacy closed – 25th & 26th December 2025.
Penmans Pharmacy closed 1st January 2026.
Penmans will be open – 2nd January 2026 – 9am – 1pm.

We would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes 😀

05/12/2025

As you may have seen in the news and on social media, flu season has begun about a month earlier than usual in Scotland, with cases rising rapidly and placing additional pressure on healthcare services.

To prevent the spread of flu, current recommendations advise people with mild or moderate symptoms to stay at home and avoid visiting hospitals, GP Practices and other healthcare settings.

Advice on managing flu symptoms for adults, children and babies can be sought from your local pharmacy, NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/self-help-guides/self-help-guide-flu-like-illness, or by calling NHS 24 on 111 if your concern is urgent.

Flu Symptoms

Some of the main symptoms of flu include:

• A sudden high temperature
• Tiredness and weakness
• a headache
• general aches and pains
• a dry, chesty cough
• sore throat
• difficulty sleeping
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea or tummy pain
• feeling sick and being sick
• chills
• a runny or blocked nose
• sneezing

The symptoms are similar for children. They may also get pain in their ear and be less active.

If your child develops any of the following symptoms please contact the practice or phone 111 if the practice is closed:

• is more short of breath than usual
• has pain when breathing in or coughing
• is feeling confused, dizzy or lightheaded
• feels sick or is being sick – for e.g. can’t keep food or
fluids down
• is coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
• has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more, or showing
other signs of dehydration
• has a very high or low temperature – for eg. they feel
either hot or cold to touch or are shivering.

Duration of Symptoms

Flu symptoms usually develop 1-3 days after becoming infected. Most people will feel better within a week, but you may have a lingering cough and still feel tired for a few more weeks.

To Prevent The Spread Of Flu

Wash hands regularly with soap and warm water.
Clean surfaces regularly e.g. telephone & door handles.
Use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
Bin used tissues as soon as possible.
Avoid unnecessary contact with other people while infectious.
Stay off work or school until you’re feeling better.
Wear a face covering when in public areas, attending GP Practices, hospitals & other healthcare settings.
Have a flu vaccination if not already done so.

Flu is a common infectious viral illness. Find out more about flu symptoms, when you can use self-care, and what to do if your condition worsens and you need medical help.

12/11/2025

Ever wondered what a Community Link Worker does❓

Community Link Workers are here to support you with life’s challenges that go beyond medical treatment. We’re part of your GP practice team and here to help when things feel a bit overwhelming.

💬 Calum can offer support around:
💰 Money worries or debt
💼 Unemployment or housing concerns
💞 Loneliness, bereavement, or caring for someone
🤝 Connecting with local groups and activities
🌈 Finding local support groups or community resources
🍃 Managing stress, anxiety, or low mood
🏃♀️ Living a healthier lifestyle

There’s one Community Link Worker in every GP practice across North Ayrshire — and here in Beith, that’s Calum!

🎥 Tap below to hear from Calum himself and find out how he can help you get the right support, at the right time. 👇

10/11/2025

Protected Learning Time Training

The practice will close at 1:00pm on Wednesday, 26th November, for staff training, and will reopen as normal at 8.30am on Thursday, 27th November.

Please note that e-Consult will be unavailable on Wednesday, 26th November. During this time, clinicians will be offering urgent appointments only. The e-Consult service will resume at 7:00am on Thursday, 27th November. We kindly ask that routine enquiries are submitted once the service reopens.

If you require urgent medical assistance during the afternoon closure, please contact the Ayrshire Urgent Care Service on 01563 826930. They will be available to provide support and advice to patients while the practice is closed.

Many thanks.

04/11/2025

Change of venue details

03/11/2025

Counter Fraud Services is being alerted to a sharp rise in scam GP telephone calls.

Members of the public receive a call appearing to be from their GP asking them to press a button to update their details.

Some of these messages suggest that if the person does not update their details, they will be removed from the GP practice list.

If you receive a telephone call from an unknown number asking you to update your details, hang up.

Do not provide any details or press a number on your handset.

If you receive a scam telephone call, you can report this to Police Scotland on 101.

Find out more about scam telephone calls on the National Cyber Security Centre website. https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

31/10/2025

On Friday 24th of October our team took part in Wear it Pink for the Breast Cancer Now charity to raise awareness of breast cancer.

We would like to thank everyone who very kindly placed a donation in our box at reception. A total of £80 has been raised 😀😀😀

22/10/2025

On Friday 24th of October the practice team will be wearing pink to raise money for breast cancer awareness (some will be wearing more pink than others 😆). Photos will be uploaded after the event. If anyone would like to make a donation, there will be a collection box in the practice ☺️

Many thanks

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 💕 Please share and help us spread this vital message 👇

October is the most important time of our year. A time for us to come together to raise awareness of breast cancer, and get checking our breasts.

We’re here to help you understand the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, so you can feel more confident in recognising any new or unusual changes in your breasts.

20/10/2025

17/10/2025

REPEAT PRESCRIPTION ORDERING REMINDER

We kindly ask that patients remember to check their medications regularly, and allow 7 full working days before running out of medication and placing your next order. If you order on Friday your prescription may not be ready to collect from the pharmacy until the following Friday.

If you are going to run out of your medication before the 7-day turnaround time, please let a member of our team know, and as always they will try their best to assist you, but depending on when the prescription order has been placed we cannot guarantee the prescription will be signed and sent to the chemist on the same day.

If the medication is a repeat item, and you know you are going to run out, please speak to your pharmacy and depending on the medication required they may be able to give you an emergency supply to tide you over until your prescription is ready.

Please check with your chosen collection point i.e. pharmacy or practice once 7 full working days has elapsed before collecting your medication.

Please note that some medications can be placed on a serial script which would be ordered automatically from the practice and sent to your chosen collection point before your medication would run out saving the need to reorder prescriptions medications yourself. Unfortunately, this service does not cover all medications for e.g. just in case medications or pain killers. If this is something you think may be of benefit to you or a family member, please contact the practice to speak to our Pharmacy Technician to discuss this further. Our Pharmacy Technician is based in the practice on a Monday and Thursday.

MEDICATION REQUESTED BY THE HOSPITAL

If your hospital consultant wishes you to commence medication immediately/urgently they should issue you with the prescription directly.

If your hospital consultant wishes you to start medication routinely, this request with be passed to our Practice Pharmacy Team and will fall within the 7-day turnaround.

We hope this information is helpful.

Many thanks.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A PAN AYRSHIRE REQUEST FOLLOWED BY GP PRACTICES AND HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE BY NHS AYRSHIRE & ARRAN.

Our clinicians prescribe and dispense around 9 million prescription items each year.

To make sure that this can be done safely:
🔹Please allow 7 days from ordering to collection
🔹Order all of your required prescriptions at once
🔹If you are on regular medication for a long term condition ask about a serial (longer term) prescription