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 The junior doctors, or doctors in training who represent just over
half of all doctors in the National Health Service (NHS), have
already held a one-day strike this month.
Their union, the British Medical Association (BMA), said that action
had already sent a clear message to the government.
"The BMA has today taken the decision to suspend the industrial
action planned for 26-28 January," BMA junior doctor committee
chairman, Dr Johann Malawana, said in a statement.
"Our focus is now on building on early progress made in the current
set of talks," he added.
But he warned that a third strike in which even emergency care was
to be withheld, planned to start on Feb. 10, would go ahead if
"significant, concrete progress" was not made.
The government aims to deliver what it says will be a consistent
service seven days a week citing studies which show mortality rates
are higher at weekends when staffing is reduced.
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A new deal it is proposing for the doctors would see them given a
pay rise but some anti-social hours for which they are currently
paid a premium would be considered to be standard.
The BMA says the contract does not provide proper safeguards against
doctors working dangerously long hours.
(Reporting by Stephen Addison; editing by Michael Holden)
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