The former director general of the Army Medical Service is to give evidence against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on behalf of hundreds of veterans who claim they are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Major General Robin Short, who planned Britain's medical deployment in the Gulf War, is to be a witness in a case against the MoD next week.

The 1,900 claimants are making a joint action which will be dealt with in one generic court case.

There are many who have been left severely mentally disabled by their experiences

Maj Gen Short

They claim the MoD failed to treat them properly for PTSD, a disorder which is common in situations of war and conflict.

Maj Gen Short told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that soldiers should have had better support from their former employer.

"When one looks on an individual case basis there is no doubt there are many who have been left severely mentally disabled by their experiences and by the way they were treated thereafter," he told the programme.

"I have no doubt that more could have been done. And secondly there is no doubt in my mind that more should be and needs to be done even now.

Afghanistan threat

"We should have been able to not accept that this was normal, we should have looked at it then and thought what should we be doing to identify what can we do to help these people."

Maj Gen Short said he was aware of the repercussions of such a senior officer giving evidence against the MoD, but he said he had tried to raise the matter when he was in service and "received no support".

He added that he believed people currently serving in Afghanistan were being similarly affected.

'PTSD destroys lives'

The men bringing the action against the MoD at the High Court served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, the Falklands and the Gulf.

Solicitor Mark McGhee, of Linder Myers which is representing the veterans, said PTSD "destroys lives".

"The servicemen feel the MoD didn't do enough to educate them or to treat them when they'd developed PTSD and as a result their health deteriorated and they don't have much of a life," he said.

The MoD said that while it could not comment on the court case, it recognised that some members of the armed forces did suffer stress after traumatic experiences.

A spokesman added that the department had a "duty" to ensure that they received "proper treatment" and if they did not, they "may be entitled to compensation".