Next week strike by doctors may be averted after the British Medical Association (BMA) were offered a new deal.

It comes as Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned that a strike over Christmas would carry a “much different degree of risk” to other strikes.

The BMA said members will be surveyed online as to whether they are satisfied enough with the deal to cancel the walkouts planned for next week.

The strikes are part of an ongoing battle between resident doctors who are expected to walk out for five days from next Wednesday over pay and training concerns.

The poll will end on Monday, which is just two days ahead of when the strike is expected to begin.

During similar strikes in August, thousands of patients had NHS appointments cancelled.

Mr Streeting said he could not think o

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