The walkout, scheduled from Monday to Friday, would have been the 16th strike by resident doctors since 2023 in a dispute over what the British Medical Association (BMA) described as years of pay erosion and pressure on the National Health Service.

The BMA said it would hold a referendum on the government proposal and pause industrial action while members consider the offer.

“We have always been clear that no strikes needed to go ahead if we received an offer appropriate to put to our members,” BMA committee chair Jack Fletcher said.

The union represents about 55,000 of England’s approximately 75,000 resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors.

The proposed deal includes a 3.5 percent pay increase this year, in line with recommendations from an independent review body. The Department of Health said resident doctors would receive an average increase of about 4.9 percent under the wider package.

The BMA said the package could raise average pay growth to 6.6 percent by April 2027, with further increases expected later.

Health Minister James Murray said the agreement could help end years of industrial disputes and improve stability in the health service.

Resident doctors have received total pay increases of 33.4 percent over four years, including this year’s rise, although the BMA has argued that inflation-adjusted pay remains below 2008 levels.

The offer also includes 4,500 additional training places over three years, measures to address employment pressures among medical trainees, annual progression for part-time doctors and improved additional payments for medical academics.