5 weeks today until the deadline. The Trust must respond to the letter of claim pursuant to section 3.25 of the Pre-Action Protocol  

http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/protocol/prot_rcd

The response should provide a reasoned answer to the letter of claim but the solicitor has made it clear from the outset that the Trust are likely to ask for more time to respond and that any additional time will be granted. I thought I would make it to 20th August without thinking about the deadline because it is not a real deadline the Trust don't technically have to respond accepting liability but I hope they will.