Responding to news of a revised pay offer for NHS Specialist, Associate Specialist and Speciality (SAS) doctors and the decision by British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctors and the government to enter mediation, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"Today's announcement takes us another step closer to resolving pay disputes and strike action which has caused major disruption to patient care and NHS services over the past 18 months.

"While trust leaders know this isn't a done deal, the decision by the BMA's SAS leadership to recommend doctors vote to accept this offer in the coming weeks is a step forward.

"Trust leaders will also be cautiously optimistic about progress in talks between junior doctors and the government, who have now agreed to explore mediation in their longstanding dispute.

"With the NHS under sustained pressure, it's vital we do everything possible to draw a line under industrial action across the health service while working together to improve conditions for our highly-valued staff."