09/07/2026
🐾 Important Staff Announcement... and some Summer Survival Tips! 🐾
Good morning everyone!
First up, we have some very important recruitment news...
After what was, quite frankly, a very competitive selection process (consisting mainly of looking adorable), we're delighted to announce that Flora and Finn Vickers have joined the Gairloch Pharmacy family!
The two newest members of the team are currently settling into their rather luxurious accommodation in the Executive Suite (otherwise known as the flat above the pharmacy), where they are busy sleeping, eating, chasing imaginary things and generally supervising proceedings from a safe distance.
As with all new recruits, they're still undergoing their induction programme. We can't promise they'll be particularly productive, but they do seem to have mastered the art of boosting staff morale already!
You may occasionally spot Flora and Finn making a brief appearance in the pharmacy. Please don't be offended if they ignore you completely—it isn't personal. Like many cats, they tend to operate on a "we'll acknowledge you if and when we feel like it!" 😸
In what is, of course, a completely unrelated announcement... 😉 we're also pleased to say that Gairloch Pharmacy has officially updated its pet policy. We remain proudly dog friendly, but are now also cat friendly.
🐶 🐕 🐱 🐈
Now, onto something a little more practical...
We thought we'd share a few handy summer health reminders for both our local community and everyone passing through this beautiful part of the Highlands.
We were going to start with sun protection... but judging by the weather recently, we'll park that topic for another day! 🌦️
Instead, let's talk about the three little creatures that seem determined to remind us it's summer...
🦟 Midges – Tiny biting insects that are most active on warm, still, damp days, particularly around dawn and dusk. Their bites are irritating rather than dangerous, but can be incredibly itchy.
🪰 Clegs – Also known as horseflies. These larger flies give a much more painful bite than a midge and often leave quite a swollen, itchy lump.
🕷️ Ticks – Usually picked up while walking through long grass, bracken or heather. Most tick bites cause no problems, but occasionally ticks can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Early symptoms usually develop 7 to 30 days after the bite and may include an expanding red rash (often, but not always, a "bull's-eye" rash), flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle aches and fatigue.
Whatever the culprit, scratching bites can sometimes lead to a skin infection. If redness continues to spread, the area becomes increasingly painful, hot, swollen or starts producing pus, it may need treatment to prevent cellulitis.
Our Top Tips
✅ Avoid – Where possible, avoid long grass and bracken, especially during peak tick season.
✅ Protect – Cover up with long sleeves, long trousers and closed footwear when out walking. A good insect repellent such as Smidge works brilliantly against midges and can also help discourage clegs and ticks.
✅ Treat Promptly – Wash bites with soap and water, try not to scratch them, and keep the area clean. Using Antistan cream or an antihistamine cream or tablets may help with itching, while 1% hydrocortisone cream can be useful for larger local reactions. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible using a proper tick-removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers, gripping as close to the skin as possible and pulling steadily upwards.
And finally...
If you're not sure what has bitten you, whether a reaction is normal, or you're wondering if you need treatment, just pop into the pharmacy and ask. Between us, we've had plenty of first-hand experience with all of these Highland "locals" and are always happy to help!
One final piece of news... 🕷️
Quite a few people have recently asked whether we could help remove ticks safely. We're therefore working on introducing a Tick Removal Service at Gairloch Pharmacy.
We're just putting the finishing touches to the service to make sure everything is done safely and professionally, and we'll let everyone know as soon as it's ready.
Until then... enjoy our amazing Highland summer—and remember, not everything that wants to meet you has good intentions! 😄
Ian and the Gairloch Pharmacy Team
🐾
