e-Commerce Services

Smith & Nephew Plc
19 June 2000



             SMITH & NEPHEW JOINS GLOBAL HEALTHCARE EXCHANGE, LLC


Smith & Nephew, the global medical device company is to expand the e-commerce
services it provides to customers by joining the Global Healthcare Exchange,
LLC, a web-based purchasing system for healthcare providers.

The Exchange was formed two months ago by five of the world's leading
healthcare companies, Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International, GE Medical
Systems, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic.  It will provide access to product
catalogues, on-line ordering with customer directed distribution, on-line
order status and order confirmation.  This service will supplement Smith &
Nephew's continued commitment to the high levels of personal service and
support which the customer currently enjoys through the company's global sales
and distribution networks.

The Exchange is an independent on-line business that aims to help customers
obtain quick access to information relating to buying, selling and
distributing medical equipment, devices, and healthcare products and services
worldwide.  The Exchange is expected to go live in the US in the third quarter
this year, and to rapidly expand throughout the world in 2001.

'We want our customers to have every opportunity to access our increasingly
strong and innovative product range and our participation in the Global
Healthcare Exchange, LLC is another efficient and effective way to service
their needs.  It is an additional offering in our expanding e-commerce
portfolio', said Chris O'Donnell, Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew.


Enquiries:
Margaret Stewart,
Group Director, Corporate Affairs                Tel: [phone]
Smith & Nephew plc                               Fax: [phone]

David Yates                                      Tel: [phone]
Financial Dynamics                               Fax: [phone]


Notes to Editors

Smith & Nephew is actively developing its e-commerce business, focusing on a
number of key areas:

Growing sales - through web-enabling technology, its 2000 strong sales force
worldwide can receive and provide up-to-date business information, product
support and customer presentations.

Educating healthcare professionals and patients - through the provision of
web-based education and information services for surgeons, other healthcare
professionals and patients using both company-managed and externally-sponsored
websites.  Company-managed sites include Snwnd.com, endoscopy1.com and
snortho.com. Smith & Nephew also sponsors the knee1.com site which is one of
the industry's most successful patient information sites.

Helping the customer - through supporting hospitals and clinics in their
complex ordering needs and requirement for knowledgeable technical support.
Using e-commerce to make customer ordering/inventory management easier and
more effective is a key theme of Smith & Nephew's e-commerce portfolio.  The
Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC will form part of its support for customers.