Huang Xingyu, a 60-year-old woman gave a deep sigh of relief on Monday after getting off the plane at Hongqiao International Airport.

Her husband hurt his head in the earthquake and he needs treatment in Shanghai.

"My husband has already had an operation in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. But doctors said he needs a long time to recover."

Huang said she will accompany her husband when he receives medical treatment.

The couple hails from Dujiangyan, which was hard hit by the May 12 quake.

"Many houses and buildings in my hometown were destroyed," Huang said.

Huang's husband was among the first group of 142 people sent to Shanghai on Monday.

After reaching the airport, the injured were sent to local hospitals. Most have suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries and need long-term treatment, the Shanghai municipal health bureau, said.

The city has designated 18 hospitals to take quake patients.

Yu Zhuowei, a doctor at Shanghai Huadong Hospital, said: "Our hospital is doing everything it can to support the medical work. We have prepared extra beds for the patients sent here."

The hospital has opened a special ward for quake patients, to make it easier for doctors and nurses to provide counseling, Yu said.

Yu Fei, an official at Shanghai No. 10 People's Hospital said the hospital started preparing as soon as it was told it had been designated.

"We have put 40 quake patients in our VIP ward unit, but patients coming in over the next few days will be put in the hospital's new building, which has 600 beds," he said.

Officials from the Shanghai blood administration said they have prepared extra blood supplies for the influx of new patients.

About 400 patients are expected to arrive over the weekend, and a further 2,000 could arrive next week, the Shanghai health bureau said.

(China Daily May 27, 2008)