WORCESTERSHIRE Acute Hospitals Trust has welcomed the news talks on the controversial new junior doctors contract could be set to resume, and the threat of new strikes dropped.

The government has said it is willing to hold off on the introduction of the junior doctors' contract in England for five days from Monday to allow for talks.

The idea for a pause in the long running dispute was put forward by 22 medical colleges and faculties, which called for the government to postpone the new contract, while the British Medical Association stalled on talks of any new threats of strikes - both for five days.

Negotiations over the new contract broke down in February, and junior doctors at Redditch's Alex Hospital, as well as Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and Kidderminster Hospital, have taken part in industrial action on five occasions - including the first ever all-out walkout which saw a full withdrawal of labour and doctors refusing to provide emergency cover, at the end of March.

The major stumbling block to an agreement between the sides was over weekend pay, and whether Saturdays should attract extra "unsocial" payments.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt looks set to agree to resuming talks next week, provided the junior doctors committee agrees to focus discussions on the outstanding contractual issues - particularly on weekend hours and pay.

The British Medical Association responded by saying it is keen to "restart talks with an open mind", adding it has always wanted to negotiate an agreement.

A spokesman for the hospitals trust, which runs the three hospitals in the county, said: "We are delighted to hear that there will not be any further strikes at the moment, and that will be good news for all Worcestershire patients."