The health secretary could be set to compromise in the dispute over contracts when he meets with doctors' leaders today.

John Reid will hold discussions with the British Medical Association over the controversial terms and conditions deal for consultants working in the NHS

Reports have suggested that a compromise between the government and England's 40,000 NHS consultants is now possible.

The doctors rejected a deal put to them by Reid's predecessor, Alan Milburn, last year and BMA London members recently threatened strike action over the lack of progress.

The main sticking point is over hours rather than pay, with the BMA fearing that the contract could compel consultants to work over weekends and give hospital managers too much control.

There have also been fears that doctors could lose some of their traditional powers to hospital managers.

Milburn refused to renegotiate the deal but Reid hinted last weekend that there may be room for manoeuvre.

"The consultants say they have six problems. I want to listen to them. I value very much their professionalism, their integrity and their input," he told the BBC

"I will listen to what they have to say about the six points they have in reserve, that they have difficulties with [and see] if I can shift on some of those, if I can tweak."

But he warned that "the patient in the NHS has to come first".

And on Thursday the BMA elected a new leader, who immediately offered to hold talks with Reid.

"I would like to say to him that we are here, that we recognise he is a new secretary of state and that we would like to come to talk to him without a lot of the baggage of the past," consultant surgeon James Johnson said.

"Let's try to draw a line underneath a lot of what has happened in the past. Let's work together to deliver a health service for the good of everyone working in it and for patients."

But he warned the doctors were impatient for change

"We need to do work on this rapidly," he said. "Consultants are getting very restless. Nothing has happened for almost a year now."