>I suspect that every year we are going to see the price
>gap between the pumps widen because the company's ultimate goal seems to be to
>eliminate the hospital grade pump entirely.


I have read with interest the discussion re Medela pumps in the US. An
extra bit of information relating possibly to the above is that the
distributors for Medela in Australia will not bring in the Classic at all.
Hospitals, rental stations in pharmacies (and me as a Private Practice LC)
and Nursing Mothers' Association nearly all use/rent Lactinas. These are
promoted as the hospital-grade pump as well as for home use.

Joy Anderson
Western Australia