Islay Pharmacy

31/08/2026

31/08/2026

.... And a short video as well

31/08/2026

One of the things Lisa and I love about living on Islay is that even the places we know well can still surprise us.

Killinallan beach and Loch Gruinart is one of our favourite places to walk, and this visit was particularly special as we took my parents there for the first time. We were thrilled by just how much there was for them to see. We’ve been walking there now for nearly three years and didn’t see as much as we saw yesterday.

It started with the Grey Herons. We spotted several of them as we made our way along, wading, standing and feeding around the shore.

Then we heard the seals before we really saw them! The seals were incredibly vocal and active, with plenty of noise carrying across the loch before we spotted them out on the water and shoreline. They certainly made sure we knew they were there!

Finally, when we reached the sand dunes at the top of Loch Gruinart at Killinallan, there was another surprise waiting for us. The beach was covered with beautiful mounds of pale lilac flowers, and as we walked amongst them there was a gorgeous fragrance coming from the flowers.

Of course, I had to find out what they were!

They turned out to be Sea Rocket. We've walked here regularly over the last few years but can't remember seeing anything quite like this display before. Apparently, Sea Rocket can have spectacular 'boom years' when the conditions are just right.

Herons, noisy seals, beautiful flowers and one of our favourite Islay landscapes — we couldn't have asked for a better first visit to Killinallan for my parents.

It's one of the reasons Lisa and I love this beach so much. No matter how often we come here, there always seems to be something new to discover.

30/08/2026

🩺 NEW SERIES: LIVING WELL ON ISLAY

Over the coming months, we're going to be talking a little more about something that affects many of us — living with a long-term health condition.

Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, COPD, arthritis, heart disease and thyroid problems can become part of everyday life. And when you've lived with something for years, it's surprisingly easy for the routine of managing it to become just that… routine.

💊 Take the tablets.
📅 Order the prescription.
🩺 Go for the occasional check-up.
🔁 Repeat.

But do you know why you're taking each of your medicines?

Do you know what your latest blood pressure, cholesterol or HbA1c result actually means?

Would you recognise if your condition wasn't as well controlled as it could be?

And are there small changes that could make living with it a little easier?

That's what our new Living Well on Islay series is going to explore.

We'll look at a different long-term condition or aspect of health regularly and break it down into plain English:

🔹 What is actually happening in the body?
🔹 What symptoms should you look out for?
🔹 What do the different medicines do?
🔹 Why are regular checks important?
🔹 What can you do yourself to help?
🔹 What should you never simply ignore?
🔹 And when should you speak to your pharmacist, GP or another healthcare professional?

There'll be no lectures and no judgement. Just useful, practical health information that we hope makes managing your health that little bit easier.

Because living with a condition and understanding your condition aren't necessarily the same thing.

And sometimes understanding the why behind your treatment can make a real difference.

❤️ FIRST UP: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

September is the perfect place to start.

High blood pressure often causes no obvious symptoms at all, yet over time it can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney problems and other serious conditions.

So we'll be asking a very simple question:

Do you know your numbers?

We'll explain what those two blood-pressure numbers actually mean, what's considered high, why your readings can change, how blood-pressure medicines work and what you can do to look after your cardiovascular health.

All timed to coincide with Know Your Numbers! Week in September.

So keep an eye on our page — Living Well on Islay starts here. 💙

Islay Pharmacy
Local pharmacy. Local people. Here when you need us.

28/08/2026

Parents and Guardians of children and young people attending primary or secondary school

Flu is a common infectious respiratory virus that can be serious even if you are healthy. The flu vaccine is the safest and most effective way to help protect against flu and help reduce the risk of spreading flu to others. Flu vaccinations are commencing in schools soon, Flu vaccination consent packs have been delivered to schools for issue to pupils this week.

Please check your child’s school bag for your consent pack.

In the consent pack will be;

A covering letter, a Flu information leaflet and a consent form and a return addressed envelope (marked ‘IMMUNISATION’) – a signed copy of this form should be returned to the school in the envelope provided. Please return this to schools by the 4th of September, it is essential that consent forms are returned by this date to allow processing to ensure the flu vaccinations can commence on time.

Please note; Parents/Guardians of secondary school pupils should be aware that children who have not returned a consent form may be assessed on the day vaccines are delivered, best efforts to establish if the parent/guardian consents to the vaccine. However, children can self consent to the vaccine even if they are under 16 years of age, following assessment by the vaccinator.

For further information on flu vaccination - https://www.nhsinform.scot/childflu

Also available are videos about what to expect during your flu vaccine -

For Primary school pupils
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_98iEGu0Mg

For Secondary school pupils
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQEsskB6oLc

28/08/2026

Free to anyone who wants it. Collection from the pharmacy.

Help yourselves

26/08/2026

You've probably heard Salmonella mentioned in the news recently🥚

We've answered some of the biggest questions about this common food-poisoning bug, including its symptoms, risks and how we track outbreaks.

🔗 Read the blog post here: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/24/what-is-salmonella-and-what-can-you-do-to-avoid-catching-it/

24/08/2026

📣 **APPRENTICESHIP UPDATE – APPLICATION DEADLINE**

It's been great to see the interest in our new **Apprentice Pharmacy Assistant Programme** since we launched it earlier this month.

We can now confirm that applications will close on:

📅 **Saturday 5th September 2026**

So, if you've seen our apprenticeship and thought **“maybe…”**, now's the time to turn that maybe into an application!

This is a **full-time, paid apprenticeship** based with us at Islay Pharmacy in Bowmore, giving you the opportunity to **earn while you learn**, work towards nationally recognised pharmacy qualifications and begin building a career in healthcare.

You'll learn on the job as part of our pharmacy team, supporting the people of Islay as well as the many visitors we welcome from around the world.

And remember, we're **not looking for someone who already knows everything about pharmacy**. That's what the training is for.

We're looking for someone who's enthusiastic, reliable, willing to learn and excited by the idea of starting a career where they can make a real difference to people.

💙 **Already have an application pack?**

Don't leave it sitting on the kitchen table! 😄 Get it completed and back to us before the deadline.

💙 **Still need an application pack?**

You can request or collect one from:

📧 **[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])**
📞 **01496 301591**
📍 **Islay Pharmacy, Main Street, Bowmore**

⏰ **Applications close Saturday 5th September 2026.**

And if you know someone who might be perfect for this opportunity, please give them a nudge or share this post with them.

We're really looking forward to reading the applications and finding the **first apprentice to join the Islay Pharmacy team.**

**Lisa & Simon**
Islay Pharmacy 💙

23/08/2026

Keep your distance from cliff edges ⚠️

Cliffs can be unstable, and a sudden slip or unexpected gust of wind can quickly put you in danger.

• Stay well back from cliff edges ⛰️

• Never try to climb up 🧗

• Keep your dog on a lead 🐶

• Enjoy the view from a safe distance 🌊

In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.