However, further strikes planned for October, November and December will apparently still go ahead.
Last week, the British Medical Association released a statement confirming junior doctors were resorting to industrial action, as part of the bitter and long-running dispute with the government over the imposition of a new contract.
Earlier today, the General Medical Council said in a statement that the scale and timing of the action could not be justified, and that it was extremely concerned about the impact of the strike action on patient care.
In a subsequent statement Ellen McCourt, chair of the BMA’s junior doctors committee, said the association had “listened” to the concerns of working doctors, patient groups and the public.
She said: “Thousands of you have been in touch, your level of anger over the secretary of state’s imposed contract remains high, but at the same time you want to keep your patients safe during industrial action.”
“The BMA is therefore suspending the industrial action planned for the week of 12 September. The remaining programme of industrial action stays in place.”
Danny Mortimer, chief executive, NHS Employers, said the NHS would be “relieved” that the strike had been cancelled.
He said: “We remain concerned however that the planned industrial action in October, November and December is an excessive response to any outstanding concerns, particularly as it relates to a contract agreed by the BMA junior doctors committee as recently as May.”
