BMA suspends all junior doctor strike action

The British Medical Association has suspended all junior doctor strikes due to take place later this year.

Doctors had scheduled three five-day strikes in a dispute over new contracts, but have backed down due to concerns about patient safety.

Announcing the suspension, the BMA said: "This follows feedback from doctors, patients and the public, and discussions with NHS England about the ability of the NHS to maintain a safe service if industrial action planned for October, November and December were to go ahead."

Senior doctors at the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges were among those critical about the duration of the strikes.

The Government estimated up to 6,000 operations could be cancelled on each day of the walkout.

The newly elected chair of the BMA junior doctor committee, Dr Ellen McCourt, said: "We still oppose the imposition of the contract and are now planning a range of other actions in order to resist it, but patient safety is doctors' primary concern and so it is right that we listen and respond to concerns about the ability of the NHS to maintain a safe service.

"We hope the government will seize this opportunity to engage with junior doctors and listen to the range of voices from across the NHS raising concerns about doctors' working lives and the impact of the contract on patient care.

"If the NHS cannot attract and keep those doctors on whose dedication and professional skills it relies, there will be no recognisable health service in England.

"Our fight does not end here."

The Department of Health welcomed the suspension of the strikes, saying: "The best way to rebuild trust now is for industrial action to be called off permanently in the interests of patients - and we urge the BMA to do so."

Many junior doctors are furious that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has decided to force through a new employment contract which would affect pay and conditions - particularly at weekends.

The Government says the contracts - which have already provoked six previous strikes - are designed to provide a better seven-day NHS.

Sky's Health and Science Correspondent Thomas Moore said the suspensions leave the junior doctors in an "extremely weak position".

"They've backed down from withdrawing labour despite no progress on talks, and one wonders what possible options they have?" he said. "How can they oppose the imposition of contracts?"

Doctors had originally voted 58% to 42% in favour of the strikes, which included emergency care.