The hospital and its patients are broadly based on the work of Archibald McIndoe and his "guinea pigs". Waterford's story of battle-fatigue and self-injury 25 years ago parallels that of Woods' injuries and Andrew Foyle's stress in this war.
A hospital and its patients were founded on the research of Archibald McIndoe and his "volunteers", while Waterford's narrative about post-battle fatigue and self-inflicted harm, which occurred 25 years ago, parallels Woods' injuries and Andrew Foyle's stress in this war.