Doctors leaders have struck a new deal with the government, raising hopes that a strike by consultants over pay will soon end.

The British Medical Association and the Association of Hospital Consultants and Specialists have secured a better package from ministers than the one rejected by advisers in a 51-49 vote in January.

Both unions representing doctors have advised their advisory members in England to accept the revised offer. Advisors will vote on it individually between March 14 and April 3.

If they accept the deal, it will mean no further strike action by consultants after participating in nine days of strikes in July, August, September and October last year.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of hospital body NHS Providers, said: “Trust leaders will be optimistic there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It is good to see politicians and unions agreeing on new proposals.

“But following last week’s five-day strike by junior doctors, which has seen the total number of routine patient appointments and surgeries delayed by strikes since December 2022 exceed 1.5 million, there is still room for more damaging industrial action in the NHS. A worrying prospect.”

The BMA said new talks with ministers had progressed in recent weeks after advisers rejected the first deal, including more details about changes to the operation of the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body (DDRB) that would help determine whether the two salary occupation. It added that the changes would help the DDRB regain the independence from ministers it had lost.

In what is likely to be a significant revision to the original offer, consultants who have been at this level for four to seven years will now receive a combined £3,000 pay rise, on top of the 6% pay rise awarded by ministers in 2023-24. All senior doctors last summer.

Dr Vishal Sharma, chairman of the BMA’s advisory committee, said negotiations had made enough progress on issues unresolved in the first deal that the union could submit this new package to advisers, this time suggesting They accept “and in doing so can end the current pay dispute and prevent further strike action”.

The Department of Health and Social Care described the revised proposals as “a good deal for doctors, a good deal for patients and a good deal for taxpayers”.

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Following weeks of constructive dialogue, this paves the way for an end to consultants’ strike action, which is a huge step forward for consultants, patients and taxpayers. It’s a good offer.”