Thousands of operations cancelled despite junior doctors strike delay

Jeremy Hunt says that he is "relieved" that strike action planned for tomorrow by junior doctors has been called off so that all parties can continue talks.

The Health Secretary also insisted that the government plan for a "seven day NHS" is "good for patients".

The junior doctors strike due to begin on Tuesday has been called off at the final hour .

Conciliation service Acas said a deal had been reached following five days of talks.

This means planned walk-outs on December 1, 8 and 16 will now be averted.

Under the agreement NHS employers agreed to extend the time frame for contract negotiations until January 13 next year.

An Acas spokesman said: "Acas is pleased that the talks have been held in a constructive manner and cooperative spirit between the parties, that will allow an improvement in industrial relations."

Junior doctors may still have a new contract imposed on them by the Government despite a potential agreement being reached that could avert strike action, the Health Secretary has warned.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Jeremy Hunt insisted he must retain the right to impose new terms at some point despite the "time-limited" agreement for the British Medical Association (BMA) to suspend strike action if the Government agrees not to impose a new contract.

Mr Hunt also denied claims that he had mishandled the dispute after Labour claimed that disruption caused to patients by cancelled operations could have been avoided had he agreed to mediated talks earlier in the process.

The junior doctors executive committee is meeting now to decide whether to halt a planned strike and accept the government's proposal for further talks.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs in the Commons there had been a "time-limited" agreement made this afternoon for further talks, where the BMA would suspend strike action if the Government agrees not to impose a new contract on doctors.

A potential agreement has been reached between the British Medical Association and the government, which could mean planned junior doctors strikes will be suspended, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.

A senior consultant has suggested hospital departments may struggle to cope without junior doctors stating that without them "the NHS would collapse".

Speaking today as it was announced his colleagues had voted in favour of strike action Mr Hani Shuheibar, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Lancashire teaching hospitals, described junior doctors as the "backbone of the NHS" and crucial to workflow within departments.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the vote for strike actionas "very, very disappointing news".

Mr Hunt said contingency plans would be put in place "to make sure patients are safe".

A junior doctor has told ITV News he doesn't want to strike but will because he feels the future of the NHS depends on it.