Question from Deputy Ken O'Flynn - PQ 5929-26

To ask the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive uses any recognised international guideline, benchmark, or population-based standard to assess the adequacy of whole-time equivalent consultant staffing levels in chronic pain services; if so, to specify the guideline or comparator used; if not, to state how the adequacy of consultant capacity in chronic pain services is currently assessed; and to outline any actions planned, with timelines, to align consultant capacity with identified population need.