Thousands Of Ops Cancelled Despite Strike Delay

Thousands of patients have had their operations cancelled despite junior doctors calling off planned strike action.

There will now be no industrial action by medics before 13 January as long as fresh negotiations with the Department of Health are able to proceed.

The Government has agreed to suspend its threat to enforce controversial new contracts as the talks take place.

Strikes were set to go ahead across England from 8am, as part of three days of industrial action.

But a statement from all parties said: "We intend to reach a collaborative agreement, working in partnership to produce a new contract for junior doctors, recognising their central role in patient care and the future of the NHS.

"All parties acknowledge that they share responsibility for the safety of patients and junior doctors, which must be paramount."

Dr Johann Malawana, chairman of the BMA Junior Doctors' Committee, said: "Ultimately, industrial action was not the aim of this.

"What we wanted to achieve was a fair, safe contract."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the news was "fantastic" and that it would mean "we can finally start to build the seven-day NHS".

The Government has been planning to impose a new contract on doctors - from junior to consultant level - from next summer, including reclassifying "normal" working weeks to include Saturdays.

It would also mean the working day would be considered to last up to 10pm every day, except Sunday.

Medics say this would effectively be a pay cut of up to 30% because evenings and Saturdays are usually paid at a higher rate.