Matthew Winn discussed with Dr Steve Turner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, about leadership in healthcare and the role of professional colleges. Steve explains how the College sets standards, supports doctors, and advocates for children. He reflects on leadership as being about connection rather than hierarchy, the value of staying clinically grounded, and the importance of creating a supportive, risk-aware culture. The episode closes with a strong message about investing early in children’s lives and keeping young people at the centre of healthcare leadership and policy.
Podcast Summary – Leadership and Culture in Healthcare with Dr Steve Turner
Host Matthew Winn speaks with Dr Steve Turner, consultant paediatrician and President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), about leadership, responsibility, and building a culture that supports children, clinicians, and the wider health system.
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Who is Dr Steve Turner?
• Consultant paediatrician in Aberdeen since 2003, originally from Blackburn.
• Works across general paediatrics, respiratory medicine, research and national leadership.
• President of RCPCH and Vice Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
• Continues to practise clinically, running clinics each week.
“I’m first and foremost a clinician… it would be difficult to do the role if you weren’t experiencing life as a clinician.”
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What the College Does
The RCPCH has four main functions:
1. Setting training standards for paediatricians.
2. Setting care standards for children and young people.
3. Advocating for the paediatric workforce.
4. Advocating for children and young people.
The College has over 25,000 members and is explicitly multi-professional, reflecting that child health depends on whole teams, not just doctors.
“We didn’t become the Royal College of Paediatrics — we became the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.”
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The Role of President
Turner describes leadership in the College as enabling connection rather than control.
“I don’t see myself at the top of a triangle — I see myself at the heart of a circle.”
His role includes:
• Representing the College publicly.
• Advocating for clinicians and patients.
• Bridging understanding between clinicians, professional staff, and politicians.
“People who aren’t doctors don’t understand what doctors do … and why would they? Part of the role is explaining the reality of clinical life.”
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Leadership Style and Philosophy
Key leadership principles highlighted in the discussion include:
“My job is connecting people.”
Leadership is about enabling relationships and communication, not hierarchy.
“You’ve got to be experiencing life as a clinician.”
Credibility comes from staying grounded in real patient care.
As reflected in Matthew’s closing comments, Turner’s leadership message is about psychological safety:
“The challenge is about risk-taking culture.”
Healthcare leaders must move away from fear-based cultures toward learning and improvement.
“Leaders, managers and clinicians must work together.”
Strong organisations depend on trust across professional boundaries.
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Children at the Centre of Leadership
Turner emphasises that leadership in healthcare must prioritise prevention, early support and long-term outcomes for young people.
“We need to invest early in the life course.”
Matthew reinforces this:
“Twenty-five percent of the population are our future — and they need fabulous futures.”
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Closing Message
The conversation concludes on a hopeful and human note — that leadership should feel positive, not punishing.
“We need regular fist-bump moments for all.”
This reflects Turner’s belief that leadership should energise teams, celebrate progress, and keep children firmly at the centre of decision-making.