Holding(s) in Company

10 October 2002

The Secretary

PR Newswire

Ludgate House

245 Blackfriars Road

London

SE1 9UY

Dear Sirs,

Smith & Nephew plc has been notified today, pursuant to Section 198 of the
Companies Act 1985 (as amended), by FMR Corp and Fidelity International Limited
that they have a notifiable interest in 65,061,418 ordinary shares of 12 2/9p
each in the Company representing 7.01% of the issued share capital of the
Company.

Yours faithfully,

J.V. Sutton

Assistant Company Secretary