As NHS Forth Valley prepares for very high levels of demand during the busy winter period, it is sharing health advice and details of local services and support ahead of the festive period.

• Medication – if you take regular prescribed medication, order only what you need in plenty of time before the start of the festive period to make sure you don’t run out. Stock up on treatments for colds and flu so you have these to hand if you become unwell.
• Health Information & Advice – the symptom checkers and self-help guides on NHS Inform for health information and advice on a wide range of illnesses and injuries including flu symptoms, stomach pain, vomiting and headaches as well as support for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and panic attacks. You can also phone the NHS Inform helpline on 0800 22 44 88 (Mon – Fri from 09.00 to 17.00) for advice.
• Pharmacy Services – visit your pharmacy first for health advice and free treatment
• Pharmacy First Service – all local pharmacies in Forth Valley provide the Pharmacy First service where you can get advice and free treatment without a GP prescription for many common health conditions including coughs, sore throats, urine conjunctivitis, diarrhoea and indigestion as well as emergency contraception.
  • Pharmacy First Plus – around half of the pharmacies in Forth Valley offer the Pharmacy First Plus service which provides expert advice and free treatment, for a broader range of more complex common conditions that would typically require a GP consultation. These include respiratory (chest) infections, tonsillitis, sinusitis, ear infections, urinary tract infections; skin conditions and infections and eye infections
  • Pharmacy Festive Public Holidays Opening Times – details of local pharmacies which will be open for periods of time on the festive public holidays can be found on the Winter Zone of the NHS Forth Valley website www.nhsforthvalley.com/winter
  • Pharmacy Sunday Opening Times – a number of local pharmacies offering the Pharmacy First Plus service will also be open on Sundays from Sunday 14 Dec 2025 – Sunday 8 Feb 2026 (10:00–17:00) to make it easier to access healthcare advice and treatment.
  • Sunday 14, 21 and 28 December 2025 – Woodside Pharmacy, Doune; Right Medicine Pharmacy, Bridge of Allan; Aberfoyle Pharmacy; McFarlanes Pharmacy, Raploch and REN Pharmacy, Stenhousemuir
  • Sunday 4, 11 and 18 January 2026 – Woodside Pharmacy, Doune, Right Medicine Pharmacy, Bridge of Allan, Aberfoyle Pharmacy (4 January only), McFarlanes Pharmacy, Raploch and Callendar Pharmacy, Falkirk High Street
  • Sunday 25 January, 1 and 8 February 2026 – Right Medicine Pharmacy, Bridge of Allan, Denny Pharmacy and REN Pharmacy, Stenhousemuir
• Minor Injuries – The Minor Injuries Unit at Stirling Health and Care Village is open every day over the winter period, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It can treat adults and children over the age of one for a wide range of injuries, including cuts and grazes, minor burns, sprains and strains and arrange X-rays for potentially broken bones. People are advised to phone NHS 24 on 111 before attending the MIU for advice or to arrange an appointment so you don’t need to wait to be seen.
• Winter Vaccinations – experts are predicting the worst flu season in a decade but getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect you and your family this winter. Details of local vaccination clinics and pharmacies offering winter vaccinations can be found on NHS Forth Valley website www.nhsforthvalley.com/vaccines or by calling NHS Forth Valley’s vaccination team on 0800 130 3120. It takes around 10 days for vaccines to give you maximum protection so the sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you will be protected.

NHS Forth Valley’s Medical Director, Andrew Murray, said: “Winter is always a very busy time for local health and care services, and it’s therefore important to know how to access the right care and advice, in the right place, as quickly as possible.

“I’d also strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated for flu as soon as possible as this is the best way to protect you and your family from becoming seriously unwell over the festive period.”