New Product Development Division & Board Change

Surgical Innovations Group PLC
14 December 1999

          MAIN BOARD CHANGES AT SURGICAL INNOVATIONS
                               
                             Also
          Launch of new product development division

Board changes
Surgical Innovations Group plc (Surgical Innovations), the AIM
listed provider of medical products, today announces that with
effect  from  14th  December Brian  Long  will  step  down  as
Chairman  to be replaced by Doug Liversidge.  Brian Long  will
remain on the Board as a non-executive director.

Brian  was Chairman of Haemocell plc prior to its merger  with
Surgical  Innovations Limited, and remained in  that  position
when the enlarged group was renamed Surgical Innovations Group
plc  and its operations were consolidated in Leeds.  Doug  was
Chairman  of Surgical Innovations Limited prior to the  merger
and remained non-executive director of the enlarged group.

Doug  has  over  40  years' experience in  industry.   He  was
managing  director and then Chief Executive of  G.W.  Thornton
plc  - a high technology engineering company with products  in
the  medical  sector.  For the last four years Doug  has  been
Chairman of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional Medilink,  a
government  sponsored forum whose mission  is  to  assist  the
development  of advanced technology companies in  the  medical
field.    He   is   also  Chairman  of  Sheffield   University
Enterprises Ltd.

Commenting  on the change Brian Long said: 'Doug has  recently
completed  his  term as Master Cutler of Sheffield  and  I  am
delighted  that he has now agreed to take the Chairmanship  of
Surgical  Innovations.   His  own professional  experience  in
medical  equipment and the important role he has  played  with
Medilink  put  him  in  an  ideal position  to  lead  Surgical
Innovations.  Being closer to Leeds will allow him to  play  a
more  active  role in the company's operations.  I  very  much
look  forward to supporting Doug on the Board as he  supported
me over the last 18 months since the merger.'

Launch of new product development division
Surgical Innovations also announces the establishment  of  ION
Product   Solutions  which  offers  design  and  manufacturing
services  to other healthcare companies.  R&D has always  been
the driving force behind Surgical Innovations' success and the
company  has taken the decision to capitalise further  on  its
R&D  in  depth  expertise, to become the  premier  fast  track
provider  of medical device solutions from design  through  to
manufacture.

The  response to ION at the recent international medical  fair
'Medica  '99' in Germany was very positive with much  interest
shown as well as several firm leads that the team is currently
following up.

Commenting on the launch of the new service Ian Lomas Managing
Director  of Surgical Innovations said:  'We have  invested  a
large  amount of money in R&D, this is an innovative  industry
with success depending on creativity and precision.  There are
many large healthcare companies with marketing capability, who
would  welcome  the  services that ION can  provide.   We  are
selling  our  expertise in intellectual property,  design  and
manufacturing to those who have better resources than we do to
give products a fast route to market.'

Another Award
Make  it with Lasers, which is dedicated to promoting the  use
of  industrial lasers, has chosen Surgical Innovations as this
year's  winner  for  its use of lasers  in  the  manufacturing
process of medical devices for keyhole surgery.

Surgical Innovations uses lasers in the manufacturing of  most
of   its  medical  devices.   The  instruments  produced   for
minimally  invasive surgery (MIS) require greater than  normal
precision  in marking, welding and cutting which can  only  be
achieved with the use of lasers in the manufacturing process.

For further information please contact:

Surgical Innovations Group plc          Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Brian Long - Non-executive Director           Keeley Middleton
Doug Liversidge - Chairman                  Tel: [phone]
Ian Lomas  - Managing Director                       OR email:
Tel: [phone]     [e-mail]