JUNIOR doctors have given a cautious welcome to the temporary halt to strike action.

The Government has said it is willing the pause the implementation of a controversial new contract for five days to allow talks to resume with unions.

Dr Luke La Hausse, a junior doctor at Southend Hospital and British Medical Association spokesman, said he does not hold out much hope of a solution to the dispute over pay and weekend working.

He said: "I think it is a very positive thing. Taking strike action wasn't something we did lightly.

"However, there have already been signals from Jeremy Hunt that this isn't something that's going to change. We want to see what they have to say.

"We'll know more when the junior doctors' committee meets in London on May 7. I'm not very hopeful but we're very much open to discussion."

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which speaks on standards of care and medical education, called for the halt to the process of imposing new contacts and a five day suspension of the threat of further industrial action, enabling talks to begin again.

After initial strikes were called off in December, doctors took industrial action for 24 hours on January 12, with further all out action on two days last week.

Hospitals in south Essex were forced to cancel more than 1,000 appointments and operations as junior doctors withdrew all emergency care for the first time in the history of the NHS.

At Southend Hospital, in Prittlewell Chase, a total of 112 junior medics took industrial action, leaving consultants and registrars to take care of patients.

In preparation for the strike, 535 outpatient appointments and 84 operations were cancelled.

Basildon Hospital, in Nethermayne, cancelled 420 appointments and 22 operations, with 99 junior doctors walking out.

Mr Neil Rothnie, medical  director at Southend Hospital, said: “It is encouraging news for our patients and staff that both sides are planning to resume talks again.

Like everyone else we will be closely following how discussions unfold over the coming weeks.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: "The British Medical Association directly caused the introduction of new contracts after we agreed to suspend imposition last November, because they went back on their word to talk about Saturday pay.

"It is now too late to change the process of bringing in contracts which is well under way throughout the country.

"However, the door remains open to talk about implementation and many other non-contractual issues of concern to junior doctors - so if this intervention helps those talks to go ahead, we welcome that."