Exhibit 23.1


            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (1)
Form S-8 (No. 333-124151) pertaining to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. 1998
Long-Term Incentive Plan, LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase
Plan, LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Management Stock Purchase Plan, LifePoint
Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Plan, LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Outside Director's
Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan and (2) Form S-4 (No. 333-119929), as
amended, pertaining to the joint proxy statement/prospectus of Lakers Holding
Corp. related to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.'s merger with Province Healthcare
Company of our report dated March 22, 2005, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements of Province Healthcare Company included in Province
Healthcare Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31,
2004, and incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K.


                                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Nashville, Tennessee
April 14, 2005