Ministers will meet representatives of the British Medical Association later on Thursday.

It is their first face to face meeting since senior hospital doctors in England and Wales rejected new working arrangements in October.

The contract was backed by consultants in Scotland and Northern Ireland and looks set to be introduced there.

But the BMA has said changes are needed if the deal is to be introduced in the rest of the country.

Across the UK, consultants voted almost two to one against the proposals.

Dr Bogle will lead the BMA delegation

Many said they believed the contract would give NHS managers too much power to interfere with their day-to-day work.

They also objected to plans for them to work evenings and weekends without additional pay.

Under the proposed deal, consultants would have received pay increases ranging from 9% to 24%, depending on their age and experience.

The BMA has said it wants to re-open talks with the government to address the concerns of its members.

Ministers adamant

Ministers, however, have insisted there will be no renegotiation. The BMA originally backed the deal, agreed after two years of talks.

Hospitals could offer the contracts to newly-appointed consultants and to existing doctors who voted in favour.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has indicated that the �300m per year earmarked for consultants could now go to NHS managers.

Ministers are also believed to be considering a new 'junior' hospital consultant grade to help the NHS to carry out more work.

According to the BMA, Thursday's talks will centre on the "crisis of morale" among NHS consultants.

The BMA team will be headed by chairman Dr Ian Bogle and will include members of its consultants' and junior doctors committee.

Dr Bogle was not involved in the original contract talks. Those negotiations were headed by Dr Peter Hawker, who resigned as chairman of the consultants' committee after October's ballot.