UPDATE 2-Synergy Health H1 profit up, confident of full year

* Raises interim dividend by 16.7 pct to 4.9 pence

* Pretax profit before items up 19.8 pct at 14.9 mln stg

* Finance director to retire

* To exit non-core businesses over next 3 yrs

* Shares up 2 pct (Adds details, CEO comment; updates share movement)

By Aditi Samajpati

BANGALORE, Nov 12 (Reuters) - British health services firm Synergy Health Plc (SYR.L) posted a higher first-half profit, aided by growing patient-safety requirements in hospitals, and said it expected the trend to continue in the second half.

The company, whose services include sterilisation of medical equipment for hospitals, said it was comfortable with the market forecast for the year ending March 28, 2010, helped by growth in China.

"We are slightly ahead of expectations in the first half and are comfortable with how the business is performing currently," Chief Executive Richard Steeves told Reuters.