FORM 6-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                        Report of Foreign Private Issuer
                        Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
                        of the Securities Exchange Act of
                                      1934


                                  June 14, 2002


                               SMITH & NEPHEW plc
                               (Registrant's name)


                                   Heron House
                                 15 Adam Street
                             London, England WCN 6LA
              (Address of registrant's principal executive offices)


     [Indicate  by check mark whether the  registrant  files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.]

                  Form 20-F  X                  Form 40-F __

     [Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the   registrant  by  furnishing   the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing information to the
Commission  pursuant to Rule  12g3-2 (b) under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934.]

                  Yes __                        No  X

     If  "Yes"  is  marked,  indicate  below  the file  number  assigned  to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2 (b) : 82- n/a.



                                                                  Total Pages: 2


13 June 2002



The Secretary
London Stock Exchange
RNS
Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HP



Dear Sirs,

Smith & Nephew plc has been notified today, pursuant to Section 198 of the
Companies Act 1985 (as amended), by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers that they
ceased to have a notifiable interest in the ordinary share capital of Smith &
Nephew plc as of 10th June 2002.

Yours faithfully,





J.V. Sutton
Assistant Company Secretary