From 27 April 2026, blood testing services currently provided at The Princess Alexandra Hospital site, delivered by Health Services Laboratories (HSL), will move to a new, purpose-built facility on the first floor of The Harvey Centre (opposite Cineworld), delivered in partnership with Harlow Council.
This change means patients will easily be able to attend appointments in the heart of the town centre – close to shops, transport links and parking – while also helping to free up vital space at the hospital for more complex and urgent clinical care.
Around 300 patients a day currently attend PAH for blood tests. The new facility has been designed to provide a modern, welcoming and patient-focused environment, with improved accessibility and the same high standards of safety, infection control and clinical care. The service will continue to be delivered by the current experienced phlebotomy team – just in a more convenient setting.
Blood testing services will continue to be available at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping and Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford. In addition, a small amount of phlebotomy services will be provided at the PAH site for patients under one year old and those requiring specific blood tests. Patients will be advised by their clinician if they need to book at the PAH site and how to do this.
This move is the first visible step in a wider plan to bring more healthcare services onto the high street, making care easier to access by moving appropriate services out of hospital settings and into the heart of the community.
Take a look at the walkthrough video of the new facility below.
Hear more from Veronika Broodi, Phlebotomist, who will be moving to the new facility:
Read more about blood testing services via this link >