Heidi Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to news the junior doctor industrial action has been suspended, said:

“Nobody wanted to see industrial action, not least the junior doctors, so it will be a huge relief to many that common sense has finally prevailed.

“If Jeremy Hunt had agreed to independent talks when it was first put to him he could have avoided or at least mitigated any disruption to patients. Unfortunately, it will now be too late to rearrange the operations and appointments that have been cancelled and those patients deserve an apology from Jeremy Hunt.

“The Government’s handling of these negotiations has been a lesson in precisely how not to do it. Hopefully today’s announcement will allow both sides to put this whole sorry saga behind them and make sure they negotiate a contract that is both fair for junior doctors and safe for patients.”