The Home Office has been asked to extend visa for pre-reg pharmacists for a year following announcement last month that doctors, nurses and paramedics will have their visas automatically extended for a year due to the coronavirus crisis.
In a joint letter sent to the Home Secretary on April 23, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association stressed that such a measure would help to “maintain the national pharmacy workforce” and “support other healthcare professions during this time of great need.”
The letter noted: “The greatest uncertainty lies with those who currently hold a Tier 2 or 4 visa. With the registration assessment being postponed and the logistics of provisional registration still being determined by the regulatory body, there is an urgent need for clarity for both sponsors and visa holders.”