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Junior doctors' strike suspended 48-hour junior doctors' strike called off
(35 minutes later)
BMA suspends junior doctors' strike in England set for 26-28 January, as talks with government continue The 48-hour junior doctors' strike due to start next Tuesday in England has been called off by the British Medical Association
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. The decision comes as talks continue this week between the doctors' union and the government about the disputed junior doctor contract in England.
If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. The BMA said the move did not mean a deal had been met.
A planned strike on Wednesday 10 February could still go ahead if the negotiations stall.
That stoppage is considered to be potentially the most disruptive as it is a complete walk-out, whereas next week's one - like the 24-hour strike held last Tuesday - still saw junior doctors provide emergency cover.
Commenting on the decision to suspend industrial action, BMA junior doctor committee chair Dr Johann Malawana said: "The BMA's aim has always been to deliver a safe, fair junior doctor contract through negotiated agreement.
"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 today taken the decision to suspend the industrial action planned for 26 to 28 January, 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, including the protection of patient safety and doctor's working lives, and the recognition of unsocial hours.
"Significant, concrete progress will need to be made if future action, currently planned for 10 February, is to be averted."
What is the dispute about?
The junior doctors row explained
What patients need to know
What exactly do junior doctors do?
How does your job compare?
The lessons of the 1975 doctors' strike
Junior doctors' dispute: What next?
The decision by the BMA comes after a 24-hour walk-out by junior doctors last week. It led to over 3,000 operations being cancelled on the day - about one in 10 of those that were planned to take place.
But as soon as that finished talks restarted at the conciliation service Acas - discussion which are continuing this week.