Matthew Rutter is the lead respiratory physiologist at CUH and vice chair of the Association of Respiratory Technology and Physiology professional body. Matthew, who has worked at CUH for over 20 years told us more about his time here and his new role.
What is your name and your role in our hospitals?
Hi, my name is Matthew Rutter, but I like to be called Matt, and I am the lead respiratory physiologist at CUH. I have also taken on a national role as the vice chair of our professional body, the Association of Respiratory Technology and Physiology (opens in a new tab).
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The opportunity to have contact with patients, doing my utmost to get the best quality results, whilst ensuring they have a great patient experience.
Lung function tests are daunting enough, so making the experience enjoyable is what I feel most satisfied by. I also try to deliver the tests to the highest standard and this is something I am most proud of that the whole team strives for.
Tell us a bit about your CUH journey.
My time with CUH actually started before I worked here. I was a patient first, under the care of haematology as I had a bone marrow transplant in 1998 at the age of 15, this was successful but not without complications. I developed graft versus host disease which specifically attacked my lungs. This is where my relationship with lung function service started as I was having regular lung function testing for monitoring.
At its worst my condition meant I couldn't walk across a room and being so close to the bone marrow transplant, the outlook was bleak. However, I bounced back and just continued to improve, with age on my side.
When I returned to school and was investigating a career, I knew I couldn't do a physical job and that if I needed time off for health my employer would need to be understanding. Where better than respiratory medicine. I knew I could talk to people, I would be in the best place if new medicines came through and they would understand about any time off I needed. After starting I found that I loved testing patients and I had a real interest in respiratory physiology. I haven’t looked back since.
I officially joined CUH in September 2002 and did an undergraduate degree at Anglia Ruskin. This involved full time employment at CUH and being released for study days. I had a secondment in London while I studied my masters in clinical research during which time I was based at Kings College.
Since joining CUH in 2002 I have always worked in the lung function service, starting as a lung function technician and continually working upwards to my current role as the lead respiratory physiologist at CUH.
My long involvement with the lung function service is why I became involved with the Association of Respiratory Technology and Physiology, becoming their vice chair in April 2024 (opens in a new tab).
Why do you like working at CUH?
I have personal connections to the Trust, particularly having been a patient here, and I feel that the relationships with colleagues that have developed over the years make this a great place to work.
What does a usual day look like for you?
Nowadays it is mostly management of the lung function department, ensuring the standards are met to maintain our IQIPS accreditation status, while looking to improve and develop the service. I am also involved with assisting the clinical side when required in patient testing and physiologist training.
Tell us about a case study/experience at CUH that really stands out to you.
Because I'm in the unique position of having been a patient and sitting in the chair, I have a unique perspective. I have in the past had patients that were anxious or not willing to do the tests. After sharing my experiences I have seen patients come round to the testing and have a positive perspective towards it. This is something that my colleagues also try to do, we have had some very anxious patients coming for cardiopulmonary exercise testing, myself and colleague Chris Harding try to reassure patients as much as possible and distract the patients with a light hearted approach. This has been complimented by patients for alleviating their anxiety and suggested we should be a comedy double act!
How do you feel your role benefits our patients?
My role has developed across many years and each one has contributed to developing and supporting patients. From my early years of testing to now supporting others to deliver the testing to a high standard. I am now in a position to improve and develop our service to ensure patients get quality results and have a good experience.
My national role as the vice chair of the Association of Respiratory Technology and Physiology also allows me to make improvements across the profession, so I can take my experience from CUH and share it with a much wider population for patient benefit.
What is the most notable thing that has changed at CUH in your 20 years working here?
For the department it would be the new building we had installed in 2008. Originally we were in a rotting wooden portacabin that had been here since Addenbrooke's was built. The walls were being held up by a temporary floor that was only supposed to be there six months but lasted 15 years! In the summer temperatures would sore and overwhelm the air conditioning unit, getting to in excess of 30 degrees. Unfortunately we have outgrown the area now and need to expand, but the temperature is controlled so it’s nice and cool!
What is the most notable thing that has changed in your profession/career in the years you’ve been working here?
The department achieving IQIPS accreditation after Covid, which I had a significant role to play in order to achieve.
This experience also propelled me at a national level and I am now applying the principles to the ARTP and how it operates.