Junior doctors have called off plans to strike on Tuesday as talks continue between the government and the British Medical Association.
Thousands were due to walk out on Tuesday and again on December 7 and 16 in a bitter row over a new contract which the government wants to introduce for 45,000 junior doctors.
The BMA has now suspended all three strikes in order to hold further negotiations, while the government has agreed to suspend plans to impose the controversial new pay and working conditions.
Four days of talks between the BMA, Government officials and NHS Employers, hosted by arbitration service Acas, have resulted in the new tentative settlement.
A statement from all parties said: "We intend to reach a collaborative agreement, working in partnership to produce a new contract for junior doctors, recognising their central role in patient care and the future of the NHS.
"All parties are committed to reaching an agreement that improves safety for patients and doctors and therefore NHS Employers have agreed to extend the time frame for the BMA to commence any industrial action by four weeks to January 13, 2016 at 1700, to allow negotiations to progress.
"Within that timetable, the BMA agrees to temporarily suspend its proposed strike action and the Department of Health agrees similarly to temporarily suspend implementation of a contract without agreement.
"All parties acknowledge that they share responsibility for the safety of patients and junior doctors, which must be paramount."
Junior doctors were poised to provide only emergency care for 24 hours from 8am on Tuesday followed by full walkouts from 8am to 5pm on December 8 and 16.
NHS England estimates suggest that over 4,000 operations and procedures have already been scrapped for Tuesday.
The basis for fresh negotiations is the government's offer from early November, including an 11 per cent rise in basic pay for junior doctors.
This is offset by plans to cut the number of hours on a weekend that junior doctors can claim extra pay for "unsocial" hours.
Additional reporting by the Press Association.
