Closure Alert Process

Please follow the steps below if your pharmacy must close for any reason.

  1. Notify the Heath Board
    Email PCCT loth.communitypharmacycontract@nhs.scot using the notification template. Your email must include:
    – The time of closure and the reason for it
    – The expected time and date of reopening
    If you are unable to email PCCT, you must phone 0131 537 8427.
  2. Display Closure Notice
    A notice must be clearly displayed on your pharmacy’s door or window with details of the nearest alternative pharmacies. A template poster is available.
  3. Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Patients
    If applicable, make appropriate arrangements for any OST patients due to attend on the day of closure. Include details of these arrangements in your notification to PCCT. Inform the relevant prescriber (locality substance use hub or GP) of any patient who will be affected by the closure.
  4. Urgent and Instalment Prescriptions
    Make appropriate arrangements for the collection of any outstanding urgent and MCA prescriptions. Include details of these arrangements in your notification to PCCT.
  5. Notify Key Healthcare Contacts
    Inform the following of your closure:
    – Local GP practices
    – Nearby community pharmacies
    – Local care homes
    – Substance Use Services (as above)
    – Other relevant specialist services
  6. Notify Out-of-Hours Services
    If the pharmacy will be unexpectedly closed in the evening, at the weekend or on a public holiday, email out-of-hours services: loth.flowcentre@nhs.scot, loth.lucs@nhs.scot and nhs24providerupdates@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk.
  7. Enable Automatic Replies
    Activate the automatic out-of-office reply on your shared mailbox. See the Microsoft support pages for how to set this up. Adapt the following message for automatic replies:
    This pharmacy is currently closed and we have no access to this mailbox. We expect to reopen at [insert day/time].  Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Resources and Templates

NHS Lothian monitors all closures and will contact any pharmacies requiring further support or clarification regarding their contingency plans.

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Last updated 19/05/25 EBR