Am I mad, in a coma, or forward in time?

 
Late last year, co-creator Matthew Graham wrote Life on Mars one more time: in a Christmas special short story for the Daily Mail tabloid in the UK. I mentioned this earlier in 2008, but now that Ashes to Ashes has finished its first series, this part fascinates me about Sam’s post-series life. Annie speaks to Sam and recollects a dream she had:

[Sam] turned to go, aware that outside a Ford Cortina was blocking in the ambulances and an impatient pair of leather string-backs were tapping the steering wheel. But Annie snatched his elbow and grinned awkwardly.
   “When I was shot I … I blacked out I think. I had this incredible dream. It was so vivid. I was in a hospital room. It wasn’t like this one. It was spanking new and white and there were gadgets and stuff by the bed that I’d not seen before. Space age—all flashing lights and beeping. And … and you were lying there, Sam, connected to these machines.”

   I know Matthew has said that Sam was in a coma and it’s that simple, but given that Alex Drake’s Ashes to Ashes situation is different, does the above give us any clues? Remember, it’s not fan fiction: this is from the co-creator of Life on Mars!