Hunt 'reserves right' to impose contracts on junior doctors

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.