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.
The hospital and its patients are grounded in the work of Archibald McIndoe and his "test subjects", similar to how Waterford's story about combat-related trauma and self-harm 25 years ago aligns with Woods' injuries and Andrew Foyle's stress in this conflict.