Venizeleio General Hospital in Heraklion is facing a significant shortage of paramedics and ambulance staff, according to an announcement by the hospital's workers' union. The union has raised concerns about the scale of the staffing gaps, which affect emergency response capacity at one of Crete's main public hospitals. Tourists who require emergency medical assistance in the Heraklion area should be aware that ambulance response times may be longer than expected. Visitors are advised to keep travel insurance documents accessible, note the location of private clinics as an alternative, and contact their hotel reception in a medical emergency, as staff can help coordinate faster assistance.