Launch of NPWT products

Smith & Nephew Plc
29 February 2008


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Smith & Nephew launches Negative Pressure Wound Therapy products

V1STA* portable and EZCARE* systems - a fresh perspective in NPWT


Exciting additions to Smith & Nephew's portfolio will provide doctors and
patients more options to realise all the clinical benefits of negative pressure
wound therapy (NPWT) while improving performance in cost effectiveness, patient
comfort and ease of use

February 29, 2008

Smith & Nephew's (LSE: SN; NYSE:SNN) Advanced Wound Management business unit is
today launching its Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) products as part of
its complete portfolio of wound management products, thereby offering proven
solutions across the continuum of wound care. With this addition, Smith & Nephew
is the first and only wound care company to provide a complete portfolio of
advanced wound care solutions including negative pressure wound therapy.

The V1STA and EZCARE products, acquired from BlueSky Medical in May 2007, are
part of Smith & Nephew's range of customer solutions for hard-to-heal wounds and
are the cornerstone of Smith & Nephew's global NPWT business. The NPWT global
market is the fastest growing segment of the wound care market, estimated to be
worth $1.6 billion in 2008. The launch of these products will allow Smith &
Nephew to enter into a rapidly expanding area of the market that grew at an
annual rate in excess of 15 percent in the US and 28 percent in non-US markets.

NPWT, through the application of sub-atmospheric pressure, can be used to treat
chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, pressure sores, and post-operative and
hard-to-heal wounds more efficiently and effectively than ever before. The
addition of NPWT products makes Smith & Nephew the only company to offer a
complete portfolio of advanced wound care solutions to help physicians treat a
broad range of wounds. Smith & Nephew can now help physicians select the
treatment path most appropriate for the unique requirements of each wound.

In October 2007 Smith & Nephew announced it had reached an agreement with
Universal Hospital Services ('UHS') to bring its NPWT products to the US rental
market through UHS, focusing on the US Acute Care market. UHS is a leading
medical equipment lifecycle services company, operating through more than 80
offices across the US. UHS's diverse customer base includes more than 3,800
acute care hospitals. The combination of Smith & Nephew's NPWT product
portfolio, with the medical equipment management and logistics support of UHS
will provide customers with the most efficient access to this advanced wound
treatment technology.

Joe Woody, President, Advanced Wound Management said, 'Following the acquisition
of Blue Sky in 2007, we are very excited to launch our new NPWT franchise, which
gives Smith & Nephew the opportunity to offer physicians an additional weapon in
their armoury to treat serious wounds. Smith & Nephew now provides wound
treatment solutions that can treat the full spectrum of wounds. This is a highly
underserved market and we look forward to introducing V1STA and EZCARE to the
market in the coming weeks. This product area fits perfectly in our company's
portfolio of products all dedicated to improving patients lives.'

Robin Carlstein, Senior Vice President - NPWT Strategic Business Unit said, 'We
plan to leverage Smith & Nephew's key strengths in attractive market segments in
advanced wound management, including NPWT, infection management, foams and
surgical Settings. The company will support the global launch of the V1STA and
EZCARE products with a comprehensive offering of training and educational
services, as well as providing clinical evidence across the global reach, to
assist the medical staff in incorporating NPWT into their wound care practices.
Today was a great first step in this process as we are meeting with more than
150 physicians, nurses and wound care specialists who will be able to put this
exciting technology into practice to help improve quality of life for their
patients.'

Analyst/investor inquiries:

Liz Hewitt
Smith & Nephew
[phone]
[e-mail]

Media inquiries:

Sidonie Myers
Smith & Nephew Advanced Wound Management
[phone]/[phone]
[e-mail]

Notes for Editors

Smith & Nephew is the first and only wound care company to provide a complete
portfolio of advanced wound care solutions including negative pressure wound
therapy (NPWT). NPWT is a technology used to treat chronic wounds such as
diabetic ulcers, pressure sores, as well as post-operative and hard-to-heal
wounds. It aids in the healing of open wounds by the application of
sub-atmospheric pressure.

Smith & Nephew has now added a range of NPWT products to its advanced wound
management portfolio including:

EZCARE* - A NPWT system that is designed for simple operation to minimise
training requirements and improve efficiency. It has a long battery life, safety
alarms, patient lockout and a quiet operation. It also operates at lower vacuum
levels enhancing patient comfort and compliance.

V1STA* - A NPWT system that is lightweight and easily portable. The device
incorporates a range of safety features such as low vacuum alarms for detection
of leaks and sensing technology to protect against high vacuum levels.

Both NPWT systems are designed to be used with a range of wound sealing dressing
kits, and canisters now offered by Smith & Nephew. The EZCARE and V1STA systems
involve simple dressing changes that take less nursing time and are easy to
learn and teach.

Smith & Nephew will officially launch their Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
(NPWT) products this weekend to over 150 physicians, nurses and wound care
specialists at a conference held in Las Vegas. The event will be chaired by Dr.
Mark Chariker, MD, FACS, who developed (with Katherine Jeter, EdD, ET) the
pioneering Chariker-Jeter method, which was the first documented use of vacuum
dressing in the US and resulted in improving wound healing.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew Advanced Wound Management, is headquartered in the United Kingdom
. The organisation has manufacturing centres in the United Kingdom and Largo,
FL.

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in
Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy
and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in
arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global
orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company
prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and
professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high
standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32
countries around the world. Annual sales in 2007 were nearly $3.4 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain 'forward-looking statements' within the
meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In
particular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins
discussed under 'Outlook' are forward-looking statements as are discussions of
our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases 'aim', 'plan',
'intend', 'anticipate', 'well-placed', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect',
'target', 'consider' and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not
limited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) that
could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew,
or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please
refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a
discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information
available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral
forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting
on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the fo
regoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith &
Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.


*Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark
Office.



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