Image copyright AFP The government has said it is willing to pause the introduction of the junior doctors' contract in England for five days from Monday to allow for talks.
But it said the doctors' union must focus discussions on outstanding contractual issues such as unsocial hours and Saturday pay.
Junior doctors have repeatedly been on strike over plans to impose new working conditions.
Talks over the controversial new contract broke down in February.
The Prime Minister has welcomed the possibility of talks between ministers and the British Medical Association, saying it was important that the talks focussed on the "10%" of issues in the contract that had not been agreed, "particularly Saturday working".
The idea for a pause was put forward by 22 medical colleges and faculties today.
They called for the government to postpone the new contract and for the British Medical Association to stall any new threats of strikes - both for five days.
Impasse
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt had accused the BMA of refusing to negotiate over Saturday pay and said he would press on with introducing the contract.
While the BMA said there were wider unresolved issues over working hours and it was unfair to impose a contract rather than continuing discussions.
Between January and early April there were four strikes by junior doctors in England affecting routine but not urgent care.
Last week there were two one-day strikes affecting all forms of care, including emergencies - the first such action in the history of the NHS.
Only this morning a Department of Health spokesperson was said "it is now too late to change the process of bringing in contracts".
But speaking in the House of Lords, the health minister Lord Prior of Brampton said Mr Hunt was willing to "pause" the introduction of the new contract.
However he insisted that weekend pay must be on the agenda.
Dr Johann Malawana, the BMA junior doctor chairman, said: "Junior doctors have said since the outset that we want to reach a negotiated agreement, and have repeatedly urged the government to re-enter talks.
"We are keen to restart talks with an open mind.
"It is critical to find a way forward on all the outstanding issues - which are more than just pay - and hope that a new offer is made that can break the impasse."
Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the offer of a pause and said the two sides had to resume discussions.
"It is imperative that Jeremy Hunt puts his pride to one side and resumes negotiations with the BMA."