For the first time in three months, waiting times across the whole of Wales have been made available.
The figures show there were just over 781,200 treatments waiting to be completed during the month – a drop of around 9,200 treatments from September.
Of those were 7,300 cases where a patient had been waiting more than two years – an increase of 655 (9.8%) from the previous month.
In England, two-year waits for consultant-led specialisms have almost been wiped out, with only 172 patients waiting that long.
There were also 141,500 patient pathways waiting more than a year in Wales, which is 20.2% of the waiting list, compared to just 2.3% waiting more than a year in England.
Because some patients are on more than one waiting list for different treatments, the actual number of patients waiting is estimated to be 599,841 – this is below 600,000 for the first time in more than 18 months.
Those waiting a year or more for their first outpatient appointment is now under 50,000 – half of what it was at the peak of the Covid aftermath.
Miles added: “There is more to do to reduce long waits, but I want to thank NHS staff for their continued efforts.”
Plaid Cymru’s health spokesperson Mabon ap Gwynfor said this was “nothing short of a scandal”.
“The waiting lists statistics released over the last year were shocking enough, and now we find out they were understating the extent of the crisis facing our NHS,” he added.
Shillabeer said: “The external review into the health board’s referral to treatment (RTT) waiting time data identified a very specific reporting error that has now been rectified, and the amended information was resubmitted.”
“It is important to emphasise that this issue has not affected patients receiving their appointments, nor has it impacted the delivery of care,” she added.