Overall hospital waiting lists have reduced by 975 patients, according to the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
There were 705,357 patients on a list for treatment, or to be assessed, in October, compared with the September figures.
The number of people waiting for inpatient or day case care reduced by 717 to 72,001 last month.
Outpatient waiting lists increased by just over 700 patients last month to 516,363.
Overall hospital waiting lists are down from this year's peak of 718,165 in July.
Liam Sloyan, Chief Executive of the NTPF, said real progress had been made in improving waiting times for patients at inpatient and day case level in recent months.
He said the number of people waiting more than nine months for an appointment for a planned operation had also reduced significantly.
