{"id":44,"date":"2024-05-15T17:16:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T16:16:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-lothian\/nhs-borders\/closure-alert-process\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T15:27:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T14:27:03","slug":"closure-alert-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-lothian\/pages\/closure-alert-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Closure Alert Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Please follow the steps below if your pharmacy must close for any reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Notify the Heath Board<\/strong>
    Complete the closure notification form<\/a> and email it to PCCO loth.communitypharmacycontract@nhs.scot<\/a>. 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 PCCO, you must phone 0131 537 8471.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Display Closure Notice<\/strong>
    A notice must be clearly displayed on your pharmacy\u2019s door or window with details of the nearest alternative pharmacies. A     template poster<\/a> is available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Patients<\/strong>
    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 PCCO. Inform the relevant prescriber (locality substance use hub or GP) of any patient who will be affected by the closure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Urgent and Instalment Prescriptions<\/strong>
    Make appropriate arrangements for the collection of any outstanding urgent and MCA prescriptions. Include details of these arrangements in your notification to PCCO.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Notify Key Healthcare Contacts<\/strong>
    Inform the following of your closure:
    – Local GP practices
    – Nearby community pharmacies
    – Local care homes
    – Substance Use Services (as above)
    – Other relevant specialist services<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Notify Out-of-Hours Services<\/strong>
    If the pharmacy will be unexpectedly closed on weekdays after 4pm , at the weekend or on a public holiday, please also email out-of-hours services:     loth.flowcentre@nhs.scot<\/a>, loth.lucs@nhs.scot<\/a> and nhs24providerupdates@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Enable Automatic Replies<\/strong>
    Activate the automatic out-of-office reply on your shared mailbox. See the     Microsoft support pages<\/a> 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.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Resources and Templates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n