THE next junior doctors strike, which would have affected services to patients at Worcestershire hospitals, has been called off the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced.

Operations and procedures at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, as well as the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital, could have been cancelled if the strike planned for Tuesday, January 26, had gone ahead, as doctors were due to provide emergency care only.

Junior doctors in the county joined in the 24 hour national walkout, over the Government's new proposed contract, last week. It was the first strike by junior doctors over pay and conditions since 1975.

The BMA made the announcement the strike had been suspended this morning.

However the BMA is warning "significant progress" still needs to be made to avoid a strike planned for February 10, when full labour, including emergency care cover, is due to be withdrawn.

On Thursday, your Worcester News revealed the January 26 strike caused more disruption that initially thought.

In total, the strike action led to 20 operations and 171 outpatient appointments having to be cancelled.

The long-running dispute centres on changes to medics' pay and working conditions and the basis for the current round of negotiations is the Government's offer from early November, including an 11 per cent rise in basic pay.

Talks are scheduled to continue on Thursday and Friday at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

BMA junior doctor committee chairman, Dr Johann Malawana, said: "Following junior doctors’ clear message to the Government during last week’s action, our focus is now on building on early progress made in the current set of talks.

"On this basis, the BMA has taken the decision to suspend the industrial action, thereby giving trusts as much notice as possible so as to avoid disruption to patients.

"It is important to be clear, however, that differences still exist between the BMA and the Government on key areas.

"Significant, concrete progress will need to be made if future action is to be averted.”

On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron said the Government had not ruled out imposing its new contract on junior doctors if talks do not resolve the dispute.