Everyone’s hoping for a happy, healthy and safe festive season here in Galashiels - 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.

Scottish Borders Council offices and contact centres will be closed to the public from 3.45pm on Friday 23 December 2011 until 9am on Wednesday 4 January 2012. 

The Customer Services number, 0300 100 1800 will be available on 28, 29 and 30 December to deal with Social Work calls only.  It will be closed for all other enquiries from 5pm on 23 December to 8am on Wednesday 4 January.

There will be no bin collections on Monday 26^th December and Monday 2^nd January – collections from these days will be on the following Wednesday.

You can find full details here on the Scottish Borders Council website.

If other services are required in an emergency please call our out-of-hours contact centre on 01896 752111.

For medical issues - all GP practices and health centres will be closed from 24-27 December and 31 Dec -3 January

All community pharmacies with one or two exceptions will be closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Many will also be closed or open for a limited period on the other public holidays. Check with your local pharmacy to see when it will be opened or visit www.nhsborders.org.uk

If you or someone you care for is unwell and feel that it can’t wait until your GP surgery re-opens, when available your Community Pharmacist can help with most minor illnesses or you can call the NHS24 Helpline on 08454 24 24 24. If the condition is immediately life threatening you should dial 999 for an emergency ambulance.

Dr Sheena MacDonald, Associate Medical Director & Chair of Primary & Community Services for NHS Borders said: “In these colder months, it is important for everyone, particularly elderly people, to take a few simple steps so they are prepared if they are unlucky enough to catch a cough or cold.

Although colds and flu can make you feel really ill taking simple over the counter medication can often make you feel better – your pharmacist should be able to advise you on the best things for you to have in your medicine cabinet to take if you develop cold or flu symptoms.   Too Late for this next bit

“If you do need to access the out of hours GP or nursing service you can do so by calling NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24 “

The four key steps that NHS Borders is encouraging people to take in preparation for the winter are:

Restock your winter medicine cabinet

Many children and adults pick up common winter illnesses such as a cold or flu-like illness. These can often be effectively treated at home with basic medicine. Parents are reminded to restock their medicine cabinet with remedies suitable for children.

Use your local pharmacy

Your local pharmacy is an accessible resource for you and your family. Everyone can get advice from their local pharmacist and buy medicine for minor ailments or illnesses, and they can often help when you have run out of any prescribed medicine.

Make sure you have repeat prescriptions.

If you or someone you care for take medicines regularly, make sure you order and collect repeat prescriptions to ensure you or your family have enough medicine to last over the Christmas holiday period.

Know when your GP surgery will be open -for detail of when your GP surgery, health centre or community pharmacy will be open click here.

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.

Advice is also available at www.nhs24.com

Merry Christmas and a happy new year from everyone here at s1! Share your messages, news and festive greetings here on s1galashiels