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Doctors Dispute Talks Raise Hopes Of Deal

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said he hopes the British Medical Association (BMA) will "talk constructively" after he offered to pause plans to impose the new junior doctors' contract.

Hopes of a breakthrough in the long-running dispute came when the BMA - which represents junior doctors - agreed to return to the negotiating table after the five-day suspension was announced.

The row over weekend working has led to a series of one-day strikes by doctors.

The last talks were held in February, and since then there have been 150,000 rearranged appointments and more than 37,000 missed operations.

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The Government is still committed to introducing the new contract in August, but Mr Hunt is hopeful new talks will break the impasse.

He described the five-day suspension as a "chance to try and resolve these very damaging strikes and take things forward".

Asked whether it was his decision or No. 10's to reopen talks, he said: "Well, we've always been willing to reopen talks and have substantive talks on the really difficult issues.

"This is about a seven-day NHS, so the big issue here was Saturday pay - which was the main reason why the talks foundered before.

"But what we didn't have until today was a substantive proposal for a five-day suspension of the introduction of the new contract to allow talks to happen, and I hope very much that the BMA will take up the offer to talk constructively."

In return, junior doctors are being asked to stop planning further strike action for five days.

Saturday pay has been the sticking point in previous negotiations between the two sides.

While the new contract will see a 13.5% increase in doctors' basic salaries, premium pay for Saturday working will be reduced, which has caused anger among junior doctors.

The changes are being introduced to make the NHS a seven-day service, but doctors warn there are not enough staff to meet rota demands and this will threaten patient care.

Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor chair, said: "Junior doctors have said since the outset that we want to reach a negotiated agreement, and have repeatedly urged the government to re-enter talks.

"As suggested by the (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges), we are keen to restart talks with an open mind.

"It is critical to find a way forward on all the outstanding issues - which are more than just pay - and hope that a new offer is made that can break the impasse."

Last week, junior doctors in England went on the first all-out strike in NHS history for two working days, withholding emergency care.