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| Deal on junior doctor contract 'agreed' | Deal on junior doctor contract 'agreed' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A deal has been agreed in the long-running dispute over a new junior doctors' contract in England. | A deal has been agreed in the long-running dispute over a new junior doctors' contract in England. |
| Government negotiators and the British Medical Association leadership have reached an agreement after eight days of talks at conciliation service Acas. | Government negotiators and the British Medical Association leadership have reached an agreement after eight days of talks at conciliation service Acas. |
| The offer will now be put to a vote of BMA members. | |
| That means it could still end up being rejected, but the fact the union and government have agreed a deal to end the stalemate is a major breakthrough. | That means it could still end up being rejected, but the fact the union and government have agreed a deal to end the stalemate is a major breakthrough. |
| 'Definitive step forward' | |
| Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We welcome this significant agreement which delivers important changes to the junior doctors' contract necessary to deliver a safer seven-day NHS. | |
| "The talks have been constructive and positive and highlighted many areas outside the contract where further work is necessary to value the vital role of junior doctors and improve the training and support they are given. | |
| "This deal represents a definitive step forward for patients, for doctors and for the NHS as a whole." | |
| BMA junior doctor committee chairman Dr Johann Malawana said they were pleased to have reached a deal after "intense but constructive talks", adding the deal was the "best and final way" of resolving the dispute. | |
| He said: "Junior doctors have always wanted to agree a safe and fair contract, one that recognises and values the contribution junior doctors make to the NHS, addresses the recruitment and retention crisis in parts of the NHS and provides the basis for delivering a world-class health service. | |
| "What has been agreed today delivers on these principles, is a good deal for junior doctors and will ensure that they can continue to deliver high-quality care for patients." | |
| These talks were seen as the last chance to get an agreement and were set up after a series of strikes, including the first-ever full walk-out by doctors. | These talks were seen as the last chance to get an agreement and were set up after a series of strikes, including the first-ever full walk-out by doctors. |
| It comes after the government announced in February it would be imposing the contract from this summer after previous talks failed. | It comes after the government announced in February it would be imposing the contract from this summer after previous talks failed. |
| Discussions first started in 2012, but broke down in 2014. | Discussions first started in 2012, but broke down in 2014. |