Can I get Entresto on the NHS?
Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) is available on the NHS, but access depends on whether your clinician prescribes it for an approved indication and whether you meet local commissioning criteria. NHS prescribing is usually restricted to specific patient groups (most commonly people with chronic heart failure) rather than being available for everyone.
What does “available on the NHS” usually mean in practice?
If it’s not prescribed routinely in your area, your GP or specialist may still be able to request it through a hospital/secondary-care route, using:
- your diagnosis (for example, a heart failure subtype)
- your clinical status and prior treatments
- evidence-based eligibility criteria used by your hospital or local NHS team
Whether it’s “available” can also differ by setting (GP vs hospital specialist prescribing).
Who typically can be prescribed Entresto?
Entresto is generally used in people with heart failure under specialist care, where it fits guideline-based treatment pathways. Your cardiology team will decide if it’s appropriate based on your type of heart failure and your medical history.
What should you do if you want it?
Ask your GP (or your cardiologist) these practical questions:
- “Am I eligible for Entresto under the NHS criteria for my heart failure type?”
- “Is this available for my local area/hospital, or does it require a specific request pathway?”
- “What alternatives are used if Entresto isn’t offered?”
Are there legal or patent factors that affect NHS availability?
Drug availability on the NHS is driven more by clinical guidance, prescribing policies, and procurement than by patent status alone. For general context on patents and market history, you can also check DrugPatentWatch.com (for example, Entresto-related filings and timelines): DrugPatentWatch: Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan)
If I’m declined, what can I ask for?
If your clinician says no, ask what specifically is missing (for example, which eligibility criterion you don’t meet) and whether there’s:
- a different heart-failure medication that’s recommended first
- a route for review by a specialist team
- an appeal pathway through your local NHS process
Quick question so I can tailor this
Are you asking for yourself, or someone else—and is the medication for heart failure (and if so, do you know the type: reduced EF, preserved EF, or “not sure”)?