Finding you’ve left an important medication at home can be worrying, especially when you’re away from your usual GP practice and pharmacy.
The good news is that help may be available.
At Islay Pharmacy, we regularly assist visitors who have forgotten medication, run out during their stay, or experienced unexpected travel delays.
Every situation is different, but our team can advise you on the most appropriate next steps and help you access support as quickly as possible.
Common searches: Forgot medication on holiday, emergency prescription on Islay, replacement medication, emergency medicine supply Scotland, forgot tablets while travelling.
If you’ve forgotten your medication, contact us as soon as possible.
Islay Pharmacy
42 Main Street
Bowmore
Isle of Islay
PA43 7JJ
Telephone: 01496 301591
The sooner you contact us, the more options may be available.
If you’ve forgotten your medication, don’t panic.
The first step is to gather as much information as possible about the medicine you normally take.
Helpful information includes:
If you have access to online services such as the NHS App, Patient Access or another healthcare portal, these may also contain useful information.
The more information you can provide, the easier it may be for us to help.
Possibly.
Depending on your circumstances, we may be able to:
Emergency supplies are subject to professional assessment and legal requirements.
Unfortunately, not every medication can be supplied in every situation, but we will always do our best to explain the options available.
Sometimes, a pharmacist may be able to provide an emergency supply of medication when there is an immediate need and certain legal requirements are met.
Emergency supplies are assessed on a case-by-case basis and are not available for all medicines.
Our pharmacy team will explain:
Please note that some medicines, including certain controlled drugs, cannot normally be supplied as an emergency supply.
Where an emergency supply is possible, charges will apply for both the medication supplied and the professional dispensing service provided. Any costs will be discussed with you before medication is supplied.
If you’re visiting Islay from overseas and have forgotten your medication, our pharmacy team can advise you on the options available while you are in Scotland.
Healthcare systems vary between countries, and medicines that are available in one country may be supplied differently in the UK.
To help us assess your situation, please bring:
The more information you can provide, the easier it may be for us to identify your medication and advise on the most appropriate next steps.
Please note that medicines are supplied under UK legislation and professional standards. Some medicines available overseas may not be licensed or routinely available in the UK, and alternative arrangements may sometimes be required.
In addition, certain medicines cannot normally be supplied as an emergency supply. This may include some controlled drugs and other medicines that are subject to specific legal restrictions.
Where an emergency supply is possible, charges will apply for both the medication supplied and the professional dispensing service provided.
Our team will always explain the available options and any associated costs before medication is supplied.
If you’ve forgotten medication used to treat any of the following conditions, please contact us as soon as possible:
Missing doses may increase the risk of complications or symptoms returning.
This depends on the medication.
For some medicines, taking the next scheduled dose may be appropriate.
For others, missing doses could cause problems or require medical advice.
Do not take extra medication to “catch up” unless you have been specifically advised to do so by a healthcare professional.
If you’re unsure, speak to our pharmacy team.
UK law places additional restrictions on certain medicines, including some controlled drugs.
Even if you normally take these medicines, it may not always be possible for a pharmacy to provide an emergency supply.
Our team will explain the options available and direct you to the most appropriate healthcare service if required.
If your return journey is only a day or two away, the best option may differ from someone staying on Islay for a week or longer.
We can advise based on:
Before travelling, consider:
In some circumstances, yes. This depends on the medication and individual circumstances.
Our team can advise on the options available, including out-of-hours services where appropriate.
Yes, where appropriate we may contact your usual pharmacy to help verify your medication details.
No. Some medicines are subject to additional legal restrictions and cannot always be supplied.
As soon as possible. The earlier we are involved, the more options may be available.
Our team regularly assists visitors staying across Islay, Jura and the surrounding islands.
We can:
You may also find these pages helpful:
The information on this page is intended as general guidance only and should not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
Emergency medication supplies are subject to professional assessment and legal requirements. Availability cannot be guaranteed.
If you require urgent medical assistance, contact NHS 24 on 111 or call 999 in an emergency.
