Medical records software designer Cerner Corp. said Wednesday it had signed a contract to automate health care records in southern England.

The deal with the project’s main contractor, Japanese electronics firm Fujitsu Ltd., is estimated to be worth between $400 million and $480 million to North Kansas City-based Cerner during the eight-year contract.

Fujitsu, which is overseeing the $1.6 billion project to automate patient records, asked Cerner in late May to replace Burlington, Vt.-based IDX Systems Corp.