The number of people donating organs has decreased by 5% in the UK, according to new statistics from the Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report.

NHS Blood and Transplant published the report, which revealed the number of transplants decreased from 4,655 in 2013/14 to 4,431 in 2014/15.

Of the total transplants carried out, 1,092 were supported by living donors who gave a kidney or part of their liver, while 3,339 patients received organs donated after death.

"We have always known that because the opportunities to donate are so small, it is essential to increase the number of people who say yes to organ donation."

According to the report, the reason for the reduction in donor and transplant numbers is twofold.

The reasons were that fewer people died in circumstances where they could donate last year and there was no improvement in the consent/authorisation rate that remained below 60%.

NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for everyone in the country to discuss organ donation and decide what they would do if called on to donate.

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NHS Blood and Transplant organ donation and transplantation director Sally Johnson said: "We are truly grateful to the families of the 1,282 deceased donors and to each of the 1,092 living donors who made transplants possible last year.

"Their donations allowed over 4,400 people to get the organ transplant they’ve been waiting for to save or vastly improve their lives.

"We have always known that because the opportunities to donate are so small, it is essential to increase the number of people who say yes to organ donation. If the pool of potential donors is reduced, then this is even more important.

In 2013, the UK Government and NHS Blood and Transplant introduced a seven year organ donation and transplantation strategy Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020.