(September 13, 2019) Two large sculptures were installed outside the hospital this week in the area that will become the serenity garden. These sculptures were created and generously donated to NCH by Gordon Gund, along with a gift to our recently completed capital campaign.

One of the sculptures, which Gund has named “Freedom,” is an abstract of wings made of bronze and perched on a base of Laurentian green granite.

“Nantucket is fortunate to be a permanent or migratory home for many species of birds that evoke this sense of freedom,” Gund said. “I hope this sculpture will give to all who see and touch it a sense of freedom and a respect for the freedom we all are fortunate to have.”

The other sculpture Gund has donated to the serenity garden at NCH is named “Flukes,” an abstract bronze sculpture of a whale’s tail descending into water.

“The idea for this sculpture came from my efforts to help free a pod of pilot whales that were stranded on a Nantucket sandbar several years ago,” Gund said. “My hope is that visitors to the Cottage Hospital who have the chance to see or touch the sculpture will experience the spirit and power of a magnificent fish.”

We thank the Gund family for these incredible contributions to our new hospital! Read more about Mr. Gund here.

Starting May 13th, all patients must use the new hospital entrance. The physician clinics entrance near Vesper Lane will close.

Nantucket Cottage Hospital will enter the final phase of the new hospital construction next week, bringing us one step closer to completion of this historic project. Demolition of the old hospital will begin on May 14th, but this final hurdle will also require us to close the hospital entrance at the physician clinics to ensure the safety of our patients.

This means the only patient access to the hospital will be at the new emergency department entrance off Prospect Street, effective Monday, May 13th. The physician clinics entrance is temporarily closed during this period, so there is no access to the hospital from the main parking lot.

We recognize having only one entrance for patient access to the hospital, even temporarily, will be a challenge for our patients and staff, but this is necessary to ensure patient safety during the final construction activities on the hospital campus. The hospital will be implementing several measures to assist patients in accessing the hospital during this interim period, including, including free valet parking for patients at the ER entrance 7 days per week.

If you see this guy around town, give him a high-five, a pat on the back, or maybe just a simple “Thank you.”

Dr. George Butterworth, the longest serving physician on Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s medical staff, will retire on May 31st, 2019 after more than 40 years of general practice and obstetrical care on the island.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all of my patients, current and past, with a particular thank you to all of you who have allowed me to participate in the birth of your children,” Dr. Butterworth said. “It has been an honor and a privilege.”

HOW TO ACCESS THE NEW HOSPITAL: The main entrance of the new hospital will be unusable until the old building is taken down and removed. During this interim period, patients can access the new hospital two ways:

• From the physician practices entrance near Vesper Lane
• From the Emergency Department entrance off Prospect Street

Patients should use the physician practices entrance near Vesper Lane for doctors appointments. Nantucket Cottage Hospital will provide complimentary valet parking service at the entrance to the Emergency Department. We anticipate the main entrance will be open by late June.

OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, January 5, 2019 | 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. | 57 Prospect Street, Nantucket

Nantucket Cottage Hospital is preparing to open the doors of our new hospital following the largest community fundraising campaign in island history. We want to offer you a sneak peek of the new hospital before it opens for patient care to see the incredible results of this effort.

Please park in the new Emergency Department parking area off Prospect Street. Once full, please utilize the main hospital parking lot. You will be directed to the appropriate entrance for the new hospital. Light refreshments will be served.