PLANNED strike action by resident doctors next week has been cancelled to allow BMA Scotland to ballot members on a new £133 million offer from the Scottish government.

The union is recommending members accept the new deal for a pay increase by around 8 per cent on average over the next two years, mirroring a similar offer accepted by other NHS staff.

Scotland Health Secretary Neil Gray, who tabled the new deal, said that cancellation of the strikes was “great news” and its deal “further underlines our commitment to the 2023 pay and contract reform agreement.”

Scottish resident doctor committee chairman Dr Chris Smith said: “From day one of this dispute, we’ve been clear that strike action was a last resort, so we are pleased that after a period of intense negotiations we have agreed an offer which we believe now faithfully delivers on the deal we made with the Scottish government nearly three years ago.”