Director Shareholding

Smith & Nephew Plc
6 December 2000


Smith & Nephew plc has been informed today that Mourant & Co.
Trustees Limited, as trustees of The Smith & Nephew Employees'
Share Trust have purchased a total of 927,663 ordinary shares
in the Company in the market on the 5th and 6th December 2000 at
an average price of 311.62 pence per share, representing 0.1%
of the issued ordinary share capital.

The Trust is a discretionary trust of which all employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries are potential beneficiaries.
Each of the executive directors of the Company is, therefore,
interested in the shares held in the Trust from time to time
in the same way as other employees of the Group.

P.R. Chambers
Assistant Company Secretary