Everyone’s hoping for a happy, healthy and safe festive season here in Alexandria - but just in case, we’ve put together all the information you need about doctors, pharmacies and local council services over the Christmas and New Year period.

Doctors’ surgeries will be closed on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th of December then again on the 31st of December, 1st, 2nd and 3rd of January. If you become unwell on these days and can't wait for your surgery to re-open or have a more serious illness that can't be treated by a pharmacist, then you can get assistance by calling NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.

If you do not have this number to hand, you can call your GP practice.You will either hear a recorded message or your call will automatically be diverted to NHS 24. When you call NHS 24 they will put you through to a health professional who will talk to you about your symptoms and arrange for you to see a GP if necessary.

Your GP Practice will be available as normal on Friday 23rd December and will also be open on Friday 30th December.

You can find out more about emergency pharmacy openings here on the NHS Greater Glasgow site, where a full list of opening hours over the festive period is available.

West Dunbartonshire Council will also be closing a number of non-essential services during the Christmas and New Year break.

Most Council buildings, including the main offices at Garshake in Dumbarton will close to the public on the evening of Friday 23 December, and re-open on Wednesday 4 January 2012.

Essential services such as Social Work (including Homecare, emergency services such as Child and Adult Protection, and Criminal Justice Services), Registration, Refuse, Roads, Street Cleaning and Burial services will be operating during this period, although sometimes with reduced hours or from one office rather than three.  

Leisure Services

Leisure centres will be closed 24-26 Dec inclusive and 31 Dec - 3 Jan inclusive.  Centres operating shorter hours from 27-30 inclusive. 

Library Services

23 Dec:  All libraries close at 4pm

24 -27 Dec (inclusive):  All libraries are closed

28 & 29 Dec:  Alexandria, Dumbarton and Clydebank libraries open 9am-5pm, all other libraries are closed

30 Dec:  Alexandria, Dumbarton and Clydebank libraries open 9am-4pm, all other libraries closed

31 Dec - 3 January (inclusive): All libraries closed

4 Jan:  All libraries normal opening hours 

Maintenance and Repairs will be available from an emergency only service via the emergency controller number 0800 197 1004. 

 Kerbside and Doorstep Waste Collection Services

Monday 26 December collections changed to Saturday 24 December 

(Householders scheduled to receive a landfill waste or recyclate collection on Monday 26 December will have their collection made on Saturday 24 December) 

Monday 2 January collections changed to Saturday 31 December 

(Householders scheduled to receive a landfill waste or recyclate collection on Monday 2 January will have their collection made on Saturday 31 December)

Normal collection schedules resume on Monday 9 January 2012 

The special uplift service will be suspended from end of business on Friday 23 December until Wednesday 4 January 2012.

You can find full details of changes to services here on the West Dunbartonshire website.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year from everyone here at s1! Share your messages, news and festive greetings here on s1alexandria