Junior Doctors SUSPEND next week's strike action ahead of more talks
JUNIOR Doctors have suspended next week's industrial action ahead of new talks, it has been announced.
Junior Doctors were preparing to walk out again next Tuesday
The medical professionals are in dispute with the Government over new contracts.
The postponement of the walk-out previously planned for next week, has been revealed by the British Medical Association.
A 48-hour strike had been planned for next Tuesday.
The BMA said it wanted to give NHS trusts as much notice as possible to avoid disruption to patients.
Thousands of operations and procedures would have been affected by the next strike, when doctors were due to provide emergency care only.
But the BMA said "significant progress" was still needed to be made to avoid a strike planned for February 10, when full labour, including emergency care cover, is due to be withdrawn.
Doctors walked out earlier this month over the ongoing dispute
It said "differences still exist between the BMA and the Government on key areas, including the protection of patient safety and doctors' working lives, and the recognition of unsocial hours".
The latest move follows Prime Minister David Cameron saying ministers would not tolerate industrial action which puts patients at risk.
Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that further strikes are "unnecessary and damaging", and his administration is "still happy to negotiate and talk".
Angela Rippon argues that Junior Doctors should not be on the picket line - The One Show
Junior Doctors have long colided with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over the contract changes
Mr Cameron's official spokeswoman said the PM welcome the BMA announcement that it was calling off next week's strike.
She said: ”We have always been clear that we want to engage with the BMA to find a solution and it's important now that we continue to all sit round the table in a constructive spirit and find a solution.”