Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) has successfully completed the go-live of Cirdan’s ULTRA Laboratory Information System (LIS) for Cellular Pathology services, achieved in November 2025. This followed the success of an earlier implementation at Sherwood Forest Hospitals for histopathology Services in April 2025.

The NUH implementation spans two laboratory sites situated at Nottingham City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre.

In totality the LIS solution for Cellular Pathology services at these Two Trusts supports a combined service that processes approximately 102,000 cases each year.

The NUH Go-Live represents a significant milestone in the Trust’s digital transformation journey and strengthens the technological foundation of one of the largest pathology services in the region.

The Go-Live of ULTRA LIS replaced a legacy laboratory system that had been in place for more than 20 years and had reached end of life. With vendor support ending and technology increasingly outdated, NUH required a modern, forward-thinking solution capable of supporting evolving workflows and future service development. A cloud-based platform with robust digital integration was essential, particularly given that NUH is at the forefront of Digital reporting with 100% of pathologists using this technology daily. The defined timeline for transition made detailed planning, close collaboration and strong on-site support critical to maintaining service continuity.

ULTRA LIS at Nottingham and Sherwood now represents Cirdan’s largest Cellular Pathology implementation to date, with more than 320 registered users across histology & cytology specialties, alongside the Nottingham Haematological Malignancy Diagnostics Service (HMDN), LIFE Andrology services and Mortuary services. The scale and complexity of the deployment required close collaboration between clinical, operational and technical teams to ensure a smooth transition without disruption to patient care.

A key impact of the implementation has been within HMDN, which delivers an integrated haematopathology diagnostic service spanning Histopathology, Flow Cytometry, Immunophenotyping, Cytogenetics and Molecular Pathology. Through ULTRA, clinicians can now access a single, collated report containing results from multiple laboratory disciplines for each patient. This consolidated view improves reporting efficiency, enhances diagnostic insight and supports faster, more informed clinical decisions.

ULTRA’s integration with NUH’s downstream systems also supports the Trust’s expanding use of AI technologies, enabling seamless end-to-end digital workflows from booking in through to AI analysis and reinforcing NUH’s commitment to innovation in diagnostics.

The strength of support provided during go-live was a defining factor in the project’s success. Dedicated Cirdan technical and clinical specialists were onsite throughout the transition, working alongside NUH teams to troubleshoot in real time, reinforce new workflows and provide immediate reassurance to laboratory staff. This hands-on, responsive approach ensured stability during a high-pressure period and helped maintain confidence across the service.

Andrea Gooding, CPLIMS Project Manager at NUH commented:

“We were very well supported by the Cirdan team, both technically and clinically. Having the team onsite during go-live made a significant difference. The professionalism was exemplary, and the Cirdan support has been consistently responsive throughout. We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with Cirdan.”

Alison Young, PMO Lead at Cirdan, added:

“The success of this large AP implementation would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of the combined NUH and Cirdan project team members. The trusted partnership built with the Nottingham implementation team throughout the project provided a strong foundation for a successful go-live, and we look forward to building on this relationship with the Nottingham lab services team in the years ahead.”

With ULTRA now live, NUH is equipped with a scalable LIS that will support pathology services across Nottingham for years to come, enhancing efficiency, resilience and the quality of diagnostic care delivered to patients.

About Cirdan
Cirdan is a leading provider of informatics and imaging solutions that enhance and speed up patient diagnosis. Headquartered in the UK with offices in North America and Australia, Cirdan is recognised as one of the leading suppliers of laboratory information systems worldwide. Its award-winning ULTRA LIS is used by healthcare organisations across six continents to increase efficiency, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes.