A method of operating a telecommunications node (28) through which packets of differing priority are conveyed comprises receiving plural data packets from a source external (26) to the node, the plural data packets including both ordinary packets and a priority packet; and storing the plural data packets in a queue structure (36) in order of arrival so that the priority packet is read out of the queue structure before the ordinary packets are read out of the queue structure (36), thereby expediting output of the priority packet from the node relative to the ordinary packets.