A NEW community blood testing facility at The Harvey Centre in Harlow has been officially opened by The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) and Health Services Laboratories (HSL).

 The purpose-built clinic, which opened to patients in April, has relocated routine blood testing services from The Princess Alexandra Hospital site into The Harvey Centre, improving accessibility and convenience for local people.

The official opening event on 21 May brought together partners, colleagues and stakeholders to celebrate the collaboration behind the project and its role in transforming how healthcare services are delivered within the community.

The new facility supports around 300 patients each day and provides improved access through better transport links, easier parking and a more welcoming environment for patients attending appointments.

Speaking at the opening event, Thom Lafferty, Chief Executive of PAHT, said: “This is about much more than opening a new facility. It is about transforming how we deliver healthcare for our communities and making essential services easier to access, more convenient, and better aligned with the needs of the people we serve.

 “By relocating blood testing services into the heart of Harlow town centre, we are improving accessibility for patients while also freeing up valuable clinical space within the hospital for more complex and urgent care.

“This new facility demonstrates what can be achieved when the NHS, local government and strategic partners work together with a shared purpose, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.”

David Byrne, Chief Executive of HSL, added: “Diagnostics are the foundation of modern healthcare and often the starting point of a patient’s healthcare journey. They enable earlier intervention, more effective treatment, and ultimately better patient outcomes.

“Diagnostics are central to prevention and creating opportunities to identify risks and conditions earlier, often before symptoms appear.

“This new facility reflects our shared commitment to delivering better care for patients today and in the future, and we look forward to serving the community for many years to come.”

The move is part of wider ambitions to bring appropriate healthcare services closer to where people live, work and shop, while ensuring hospital sites can dedicate space to specialist and acute care.

Patients can continue to book blood test appointments online and access services at the Harvey Centre clinic in Harlow town centre.