The London meeting, which lasted more than an hour, comes a week after the news that resident doctors in England have voted for strike action in the fight for pay restoration. They will stage a full walkout from 7am on Friday 25 July until 7am on Wednesday 30 July.

BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: ‘Today we had a constructive meeting with the Health Secretary. While we did not see a lot of detail, we do believe there now is a window of opportunity - albeit small - in which the Government can put forward a proposal, strong enough for the strikes to be prevented. That at least is good news; no doctor wants to strike and talking now is essential to making sure they don't have to.'

They added: ‘We are open to a number of solutions that address the cost of living of resident doctors. We believe that pay remains the simplest and most effective way towards improving their working lives. However, we are keen to explore additional measures the Government could agree to help restore the value and wellbeing of resident doctors.

‘We remain willing to meet with Mr Streeting as many times as we can in the coming days to find an acceptable solution that delivers for doctors, patients, and the NHS.'

The DHSC is reportedly considering offering not to charge interest on debt accrued by trainee doctors while they were at medical school – in effect, freezing the debt – and cutting the overall debt by a certain sum for every year the doctor works in the NHS in England. However, a scheme of this type would need the Treasury's approval and other unions would most likely want their members to be included.

Speaking after the meeting, Streeting said: ‘We had a constructive conversation with the BMA today and we'll be having further conversations in the coming days to try to avert strike action.

‘While we cannot move on pay after a 28.9% pay rise, we are working on areas where we can improve working lives for resident doctors.'