Okolo & Ogundipe (Psychiatric Bulletin, July 2006, 30, 275–277) have raised important issues regarding the research day for specialist registrars. Although it has been considered appropriate for the research day to be used for high-quality audits, teaching/training and postgraduate courses in addition to field research, our deanery expects concrete proof of publications and/or research funding, as part of the Record of In-Training Assessment. We constantly find ourselves having to explain the gap between achievements and expectations.

Some trainees are clearly not interested in research and it is not ideal to force disinterested people to undertake research projects. For trainees that are interested in research, the opportunities are not readily available. Guidance and advice are poor, unless trainees are able to tap into an ongoing project. The alternative is for the trainee to spend all their training trying to understand the system, which has been my experience.

More thought needs to go into the use of the research day and if trainees are expected to produce results they need the resources to enable them to do this. The programme director needs to be involved in tailoring the research day to the interests of the individual trainee.

I hope that the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board takes this into consideration before the new system is established, so that this whole process represents good value for money and effort.