The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust serves a population of 258,000 and provides healthcare services to the communities of Harlow and the surrounding areas.

[3] In 2019 it was reported that the trust was considering a new form of private finance initiative developed by Community Health Partnerships for the rebuilding of its Princess Alexandra Hospital on a new site.

[6] The trust was one of 26 responsible for half of the national growth in patients waiting more than four hours in accident and emergency over the 2014–2015 winter.

[7] In October 2015 the trust announced that it was closing four beds on each ward, and was unable to see, treat, admit or discharge even 90% of patients within the accident and emergency four-hour target.

[8] In the last quarter of 2015 it had one of the worst performances of any hospital in England against the four hour waiting target.