"The way it was described at a recent safety of devices meeting was that we have a smokescreen of device regulation, which is unfortunately putting patients and surgeons at risk," he said.
"What we will see with private providers is a fragmentation of the NHS, with no accountability, we will see no transparency, we will see the diminution in the quality of care.
"And unfortunately what we are seeing with the breast implant scandal is the future of the NHS, it will be destroyed."
It has been estimated that the breast implant scandal could cost as much as �11 million after a top cosmetic surgery clinic refused to pay for operations to remove faulty implants.
The Department of Health said it would "pursue private clinics" but said it would help women who were refused surgery or care.
Health Minister Lord Howe said: "We don't agree with Mr Horton. There is a very significant difference currently between situations where private clinics provide care to private patients, over which the NHS does not have any control, and where the NHS contracts with the private sector to provide care for NHS patients, where clear contracts are put in place to ensure appropriate standards are met.
"However, the Health and Social Care Bill actually improves on the current position and fills gaps left by the previous Government.
"The Bill introduces a robust regime, enforced by Monitor, that will ensure, regardless of who the provider is, patients will continue to get access to services.
"Secondly, and for the first time, it puts in place a comprehensive system for regulating providers - something that doesn't exist at the moment. In the future, when private companies provide services to the NHS, they will operate under the same regulations as all providers."
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