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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                        Consent of Independent Auditors

         We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-55824) and
related Prospectus of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. for the registration of
3,200,000 shares of its common stock and to the use of our report therein dated
January 29, 2001, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
reports dated (i) January 31, 2000, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.; (ii) January 31, 2000, with respect to
the consolidated financial statements of LifePoint Hospitals Holdings, Inc.; and
(iii) March 2, 2000, with respect to the financial statements of Dodge City
Healthcare Group, L.P. included in the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Annual Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.


                                                    /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Nashville, Tennessee
March 1, 2001