The British Medical Association (BMA) has called off the junior doctors’ strike that had been due to take place across England next week
The BMA said it had provided more than the legally required seven days’ notice ahead of industrial action, but NHS England has said that it needs more time to plan for escalated action.
But some newspapers are reporting that it was the doctors who made the BMA rethink its plans.
Last week the BMA announced training medics would perform a series of strikes by withdrawing labour, including emergency care, for a week each month until the end of the year.
Future dates planned for October, November and December will still go ahead, said the BMA.
Dr Ellen McCourt, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said: “Patient safety remains doctors’ primary concern which is why, following discussions with NHS England, the BMA has taken the decision to suspend next week’s industrial action.
“While the BMA provided more than the required notice, we have taken this decision to ensure the NHS has the necessary time to prepare and to put in place contingency plans to protect patient safety.
“Our hospitals are chronically understaffed, our NHS is desperately underfunded – we have to listen to our colleagues when they tell us that they need more time to keep patients safe.
“Future action is still avoidable. The BMA has repeatedly said it will call off further action if the government puts a halt to plans to force junior doctors to work under a contract they have rejected because they don’t believe it is good for the future of patient care or the profession.
“I urge Jeremy Hunt to put patients first, listen to our concerns and end this dispute through talks.”