Your Guide to NHS Services in Ayrshire and Arran

You don’t always need a GP appointment to get the care you need. Many health concerns can be managed by going directly to specialist local services. NHS Ayrshire and Arran provides a wide range of support, advice, and self-referral options designed to get you the right help. For instant access to health information and local pathways, download the NHS Ayrshire & Arran app.

This guide will show you how to find the right service for your needs.

Your Local Pharmacy – First Place to Go

For many common illnesses, the pharmacy should be your first port of call. Through the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service, Pharmacists can assess and treat many common conditions without you seeing a GP. They can help with coughs, sore throats, colds, urine infections (UTIs) in women aged 16 to 65, impetigo, infected insect bites, skin infections, shingles, hay fever, allergies and thrush.

Find your local pharmacy

Eye and Dental Problems

If you have an issue with your teeth or gums, you should contact your dentist. For any issues with your eyes—such as redness, pain, or sudden changes in vision—you should contact a local optician (optometrist). They have the specialist equipment to examine you.

Self-Referral Services

You can self-refer to these services without the need to see a GP.

  • Adult Speech Language Therapy
  • Alcohol and Drug Services
  • Eyecare
  • Podiatry (foot care)
  • Sexual Health Ayrshire
  • Stop Smoking Support
  • Weight Management
  • Antenatal Care – Phone 01563 825411 this is the central maternity booking line. First appointments usually take place at the Ayrshire Maternity Unit (in the Pink Zone at Crosshouse Hospital) or at a designated satellite clinic. The appointment usually takes about an hour and 15 minutes.
  • Community Link Workers (CLWs) – are non-clinical practitioners based in GP practices across NHS Ayrshire & Arran. As part of the primary care team, they provide social prescribing—support for non-medical issues that can affect your health, such as loneliness, financial worries, or housing concerns. You can ask for a referral through your GP practice, either by speaking to reception or a healthcare professional during your appointment.

Vaccinations and Travel Advice

All routine vaccinations, including Flu, COVID-19 and Shingles, are now delivered by NHS Ayrshire and Arran. You will be contacted directly when you or your child are due a vaccination.

Planning a trip?

GP practices no longer provide travel vaccinations and advice. For travel vaccinations and advice, please contact NHS Ayrshire and Arran Travel Health Service. Ideally you should look to organise any vaccinations required for travelling, two to three months before you travel.

  • For vaccination information visit the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Vaccination Page
  • You can rearrange or opt-out of your vaccination appointment this is for people who want to rearrange an existing appointment
  • Digital Notifications: If you have previously signed up for digital communications via the NHS Scotland Online Booking Portal you may receive an SMS text message or an email instead of a letter
  • GP practices are unable to book, cancel or rearrange vaccination appointments.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

If you are feeling low, anxious, or stressed, there are several ways to get support:

If you, or someone you know, needs urgent help or is in crisis, call NHS 24 on 111. If you feel unsafe or in immediate danger, call 999.

General Health Advice and Minor Injuries

If you have a minor injury like a cut, burn, or suspected broken bone, or if you need urgent medical advice when the practice is closed, please call NHS 24. They can give you advice or book you an appointment at a minor injuries unit if needed.

Note: If you attend the University Hospital Ayr or Crosshouse, you will need to book in at the main Emergency Department reception first.

When to Call 999 or Attend A&E

Call 999 or attend Accident & Emergency immediately for:

  • Chest pain
  • Severe breathing difficulty
  • Signs of stroke (face dropping, arm weakness, speech difficulty)
  • Severe allergic reaction
  • Severe bleeding that will not stop
  • Serious injuries

If you have a sick child and you are very worried about them, especially if they are struggling to breathe, are unresponsive, or have a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass, dial 999 immediately.

For urgent advice when the practice is closed, call NHS 24 on 111.

Manage your Hospital Appointment via the Referral Management Centre

Most hospital appointments for NHS Ayrshire and Arran are booked through the Referral Management Centre (RMC). The team at the RMC books outpatient clinic appointments for a wide range of specialties and locations.

If you have received an appointment letter and need to check, change, or cancel your appointment, you can contact the RMC directly. This means you don’t need to call the practice, which helps keep our phone lines free for other patients. You can contact the RMC by phone for help with your query and information about your appointment.

Phone: 01563 827070 – Mon–Thu: 8:30am–12:30pm, 1:15pm–7:30pm. Fri: 8:30am–12:30pm, 1:15pm–4:00pm

Hospital Appointments

If you have already been referred to a hospital by a GP and are waiting for an appointment or need to change one, please contact the hospital directly. The GP surgery cannot speed up hospital waiting lists or see your position on the list. NHS inform’s “Waiting Well” is a resource for patients in Scotland to support their health and wellbeing while on a waiting list for surgery, tests, or specialist care.

To learn more about how waiting times are managed in Scotland, additional resources are available at Public Health Scotland.

Remember

If you have ongoing, complex or worsening symptoms, please contact the surgery. Our reception team may ask a few questions to ensure you are directed to the most appropriate healthcare professional.

We are here to support you and kindly ask that you treat our staff with courtesy and respect when contacting or visiting the practice.