Public holidays

Public holiday dates 2025-26 for NHS Highland.

Opening times for your local GP practice and pharmacy may be different to normal on these days.

Dates apply to all NHS Highland GPs and health staff in both the Highland area and the Argyll and Bute area, unless shown otherwise.
GP practice holidays are taken by GPs only, not practice staff.
Helensburgh GP practices in the Argyll and Bute area take NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde holidays, which may be different.

Important: Christmas and New Year 2025-26 public holidays

Opening times for your local GP practice and pharmacy may be different to normal.

There are things you can do to prepare, when some NHS services are closed or have different opening hours on public holidays.

check opening times before visiting a GP or pharmacy, if you don't have an appointment
pick up your prescriptions in advance
keep basic over-the-counter remedies at home to help with common seasonal illnesses and injuries:
- bites, stings, sunburn and hay fever
- cold and flu
for health advice, try the symptom checkers on NHS inform or the free NHS 24 app
speak to your local pharmacy for expert help
know who to turn to for more serious conditions

Friday 18th April 2025
Good Friday
Monday 21st April 2025
Easter Monday: only Argyll and Bute area and Highland GP practices
Monday 5th May 2025
Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 26th May 2025
May holiday: only Argyll and Bute GP practices
Friday 4th July 2025
July holiday: only Highland GP practices
Monday 21st July 2025
July holiday: only Argyll and Bute GP practices
Monday 4th August 2025
Summer Bank Holiday: only Highland area
Monday 29th September 2025
Autumn Bank Holiday: only Argyll and Bute area
Friday 17th October 2025
Autumn Bank Holiday: only Highland area
Thursday 25th December 2025
Christmas Day
Friday 26th December 2025
Boxing Day
Thursday 1st January 2026
New Year's Day
Friday 2nd January 2026
Public Holiday

Publications and public records

NHS Highland is required to publish certain information in the public domain.
Our population and people

Statistics on the population we serve, and our workforce.
Highland Health and Social Care Partnership

Highland Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) follows a lead agency model.
Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) includes social care services and all health services, incl...
NHS Highland Board

NHS Highland is managed by a Board made up of Non-Executive and designated Executive Directors.
Board and committee meetings

The Board and Governance Committees provide accountability and governance over decision making and performance.
Service redesign

Service change and hospital upgrades in the Highland area.