Consultant doctors in England have called off their two-day strike this month to hold talks with the government.
The walkout was due begin on 25 November at 06:59 GMT, with consultants staffing emergency care only.
This is known as Christmas Day cover and was likely to have a major impact on most routine and elective or planned services.
But the British Medical Association said it was pausing the action to discuss pay and working conditions with the government.
