EXHIBIT 23.1

            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration
Statements:

      (i)   Form S-8 No. 333-78221 pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
            Retirement Plan;

      (ii)  Form S-8 No. 333-78187 pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
            1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan;

      (iii) Form S-8 No. 333-78185 pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
            Management Stock Purchase Plan and LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Outside
            Director's Stock and Incentive Plan;

      (iv)  Form S-3 No. 333-42634 pertaining to 340,000 shares of LifePoint
            Hospitals, Inc. common stock issuable upon exercise of options;

      (v)   Form S-8 No. 333-63140 pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
            1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended;

      (vi)  Form S-8 No. 333-66378 pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
            Executive Stock Purchase Plan;

      (vii) Form S-8 No. 333-91732 pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
            Employee Stock Purchase Plan;

     (viii) Form S-3 No. 333-90536 pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
            4 1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2009, as amended;

      (ix)  Form S-3 No. 333-55824 pertaining to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.'s
            secondary offering of common stock, as amended;

      (x)   Form S-8 No. 333-105775 pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
            1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, and the LifePoint
            Hospitals, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended; and

      (xi)  Form S-4 No. 333-119929 and related joint proxy statement/prospectus
            of Lakers Holding Corp. related to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.'s
            Merger with Province Healthcare Company;

of our reports dated February 23, 2005, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.; LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting; and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the
year ended December 31, 2004.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Nashville, Tennessee
February 23, 2005